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Newsletter 17th September 2014
Dear all,
It has been another exciting week in the world of fashion with catwalk shows galore here in the capital but let’s not forget fashion’s unsung heroes – the skilled workers that turn design sketch into wearable garment. We are dedicated to the education and training of key manufacturing staff to ensure the growth of ‘Made in Britain’ products and now our Stitching Academy is going international…
The Stitching Academy Extends to Kenya
 The importance of the Level 1 stitching qualification has crossed international boundaries. We are now working with SOKO in Kenya and the ASOS Foundation to accredit the Level 1 qualification with ABC.
Jenny Holloway CEO of Fashion Enter said: “Meeting the owner and founder of SOKO, Joanna Maiden, was an absolute pleasure. Our aims and objectives very much run parallel together. We have shared our workbooks and best practices and we are now planning to visit SOKO. Many congratulations to all involved here.
www.soko-kenya.com
Image: Jenny Holloway with Joanna Maiden, Founder and Director of Soko and Leyla.
Apprenticeships Available This Week
Two new apprenticeship roles have just gone live on www.fashioncapital.co.uk for Bubami ladieswear and Jed Phoenix of London, to find out more click here.
Want to Become a www.fashioncapital.co.uk Member?
Along with our website re-launch we are offering a new annual membership package structured to aid emerging and established designers with a cross section of support from a broad range of industry experts.
 For the yearly membership you will receive:
- Business diagnostics meeting
- Discounted rates on mentoring packages
- Discounted access to quarterly seminars – ‘How to Succeed in Fashion Today’
- 10% discounted rates on sampling
- Members only access to www.fashioncapital.co.uk
- Intro to industry via
- www.fashioncapital.co.uk
- Promotional campaign via and all viral networks
- Weekly newsletter with industry and membership updates
- User guide to www.fashioncapital.co.uk
- Reciprocal link
- Discounted rates for all events
The cost to join is £125- plus vat for one year.
To become a member with FashionCapital click here
“Since starting my business www.fashioncapital.co.uk has been working with me from day one. They understand and know my product inside out and are a great support for myself and my brand – which for me as a designer is so important especially with the type of garments I create. I love working with them and hope our relationship will continue.” Rebecca Torres – Designer
Social Business Trust Event
Last night (16/09/14) Fashion Enter was invited to the Social Business Trust Thank You party, in celebrating the success and support provided by Social Business Trust and Ernst & Young since their investment into Fashion Enter and other UK based Social Enterprises since starting up in 2010.
The evening which began at 6:30pm was a networking and speech-focused event, dedicated to bringing together the investees and best of social enterprises in the UK, in celebrating and sharing their success stories since their investment received from Social Business Trust.
Fashion Enter received a financial and expert consultancy support investment package in January 2014, offering support with the value of £220,000, Social Business Trust has allowed Fashion Enter to grow in offering more advanced apprenticeships and training opportunities as well as doubling training facilities.
Fashion Enter was in attendance with students from the apprenticeship programme and Stitching Academy in hopes to display first-hand the support and help that the investment has provided.
Anna-Maria a Level 3 apprentice commented on the night: “Last night at The Social Business Trust event was great to meet and talk to lots of people from other social businesses. It was a great atmosphere with an amazing view of London. Being an apprentice at Fashion Enter is a great opportunity as I am constantly learning and growing within my role each day.”
Perfect Pattern Cutting Course
Great news for our Perfect Patterns course commencing 22nd September we are delighted to include a fit specialist from M&S and a representative from Tesco. Plus a lead tutor at Waltham Forest College and Hackney Community College as well as our designers.
This 5-day course is aimed at beginners to intermediate and will be held at The Factory in Haringey, North London – if you would like to know more please state your interest to Jenni Sutton jenni@fashion-enter.com as soon as possible.
Fashion Technology Academy Update
We are making good progress with our plans to open the first Fashion Technology Academy in the country. Due to open in January courses will include pattern making, fabric inspection, laying and cutting, quality control, machine maintenance and stitching.
Coming soon the www.fashioncapital.co.uk Re-launch Party!
Many thanks to all the favourable comments received on our new look fashioncapital.co.uk website. We initially launched in 2001 and the migration of 13 years of data was certainly no easy task! However the wait was worth it!
Alice Burkitt at Creative Skillset: “Just a quick note – website looks fab!”
Noya Founder of Beanie & Bear: “Love the slick new site – very professional.”
Imogen Hyde: “I could hardly recognise the FC! The layout is so much easier to use. Love the new graphics.”
Catherine Patton: “Wow – when did you find time to do that! So much easier to use!”
A big shout to Iqbal Ullah for his amazing diligence and hard work. Thank you! We know we drove you mad!
PLUSTEX Conference in Lille
On 9th October Fashion Enter has been asked to participate in the PLUSTEX conference in Lille as a Good Practice presenter.
The PLUSTEX Project (Policy Learning to Unlock Skills in the Textile sector) is an INTERREG IVC initiative that promotes knowledge exchange to help regional and local authorities foster the Textile and Clothing sector. In its three years lifetime, the project has enabled partners from eight European countries to exchange policy know-how and Good Practices, thereby identifying the most effective ideas and solutions to develop Textile and Clothing in their territories
Jenny Holloway will address Fashion Enter’s Good Practices, its objectives, tools and relevance to the theme ‘Foster eco-innovation and social responsibility in the Textiles and Clothing industry.’
Further participants include:
Sophie Glover, Head of Technical Ladieswear, ASOS.com
Cheryl Butler, Head of Culture, Eastleigh Borough Council, Hampshire
Mary Alice Stack, CEO, Creative United
Richard Axe, Textile Centre of Excellence (TBC)
New Service – Fashion Practitioners
Over the last thirteen years Fashioncapital.co.uk and latterly Fashion Enter have been involved in new initiatives and developments both in education and learning but also in strategic manufacturing and design.
New education programmes such as the Stitching Academy, the Fashion Technology Academy and the apprentices in Fashion and Textiles level 2,3 and 4 are highly successful. The education combines the real life manufacturing prowess with a learning environment that’s right for today’s teaching.
Many companies, Business Support Organisations and international partners often ask to hold consultancy meetings. We have therefore created a Fashion Practitioners service, which enables a client to explore deeper into our best practices enabling dissemination of information and knowledge transfer to occur.
Jenny Holloway commented: ‘I have never liked the word consultant! It implies talking and actually we are very much pragmatic ‘doers’ at Fashion Enter! We have never been protective over our initiates – quite the opposite- as we believe there is enough of the ‘pie’ for everyone! If we can help others by discussing the success, and perhaps more importantly, the mistakes, we have made to benefit the fashion industry then we are here to help.’
For further information and price structures for Fashion Practitioners please contact Jenni@fashion-enter.com
See You At: ‘Make It Fashion’
On the 5th November at Nottingham Trent University our CEO Jenny Holloway amongst others will be speaking at the conference for 1st and 2nd year degree fashion and textile students and various ASBCI university members. Jenny will discuss the highs and lows of running your own fashion business as well as the apprenticeship and additional skills courses that are available today.
Nottingham Trent University, Newton Building Lecture theatre 2.
The Big Fashion Conversation
An impressive line up of exhibitors is now confirmed which includes John Milne CEO of UKFT, John West Fashion Specialist Creative Skillset, Sof Sofocleous and two apprentices for New Look, ASOS.com and their apprentice Ambassador Chelsea Williams, Carolyn Springett ex-MD from Jaeger and Aquascutum and fashion show specialists Fashion Cult.
To find out more click here.
Welcome Alice
A warm welcome to Alice Prier (right) she joins us as a Senior Pattern Cutter.
Introducing Laraine Reeve – Long Ladies
We have been working with Laraine Reeve on her launch concept collection of glamorous and wearable pieces for tall ladies – 6 foot and over. You can read about her the development of her new label here.
Laraine comments:
“It’s so frustrating when you are tall, you know what you want but you just can’t find it anywhere! Thanks to Fashioncapital.co.uk I now have a British made quality collection and my own business.
info@longladies.com
On www.fashioncapital This Week…
Our show reporters have been kept busy with the latest designer SS15 shows from London Fashion Week. We have also captured daily street style images courtesy of Sherion Mullings, thanks to Sherion for the fantastic ‘real life catwalk’ shots – a firm favourite with our readers. Also, away from the glitz and glamour today is The Coalition of Cambodian Apparel Workers global day of action. Thousands of workers will be protesting for the right to a real living wage read the full article to find out more.
Image: Bora Aksu SS15
Boutique Pick of the Week
As we noted from the leaders of the fashion pack if you want to get snapped for what you are wearing you have to combine something different with a touch of styling know-how. Hence this week’s boutique pick a cotton dress with an asymmetric tattoo-gun print by ‘Jealousy’(pictured right). This sleeveless number designed with a maxi-length, underlined waistline and an A-line skirt is easy to wear over layers and yet retains a touch of difference from an every-day look.
Jealousy ‘Half Gun dress’ £190- from Not Just a Label
Until next time, have a great week,
All the team at Fashion Capital x
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