Supply Chain Spotlight
15-10-2025
Newsletter 15th October 2025
Skilled Manufacturing Workers are HERE!
Discussing the UK skills shortage in the garment manufacturing sector on LinkedIn our CEO Jenny Holloway frankly expressed her views. She said: “It’s SO frustrating! There’s an order shortage – factories have skilled workers and if they had continuous orders, such as much needed PPE, then they would invest into plant machinery and any additional skills needed.”
“There are 1000s of machinists that need work in Leicester and the UK. Machinists that have decades of experience such as Jas!” (See the short YouTube video below)
Jenny is now campaigning heavily to secure PPE and uniform production
from the Public Procurement purse – a fraction of the £400bn would go a long way to saving jobs, not forgetting to mention further benefits to the economy, local communities, and the environment.
Jenny at the 2025 ASBCI Conference
Jenny will continue to discuss industry realities and challenge attendees to take responsibility for implementing lasting change at the 2025 ASBCI Conference. Taking place tomorrow, 16th October 2025 at the University of Manchester, this pivotal conference, Fashion’s Future: Sustainable, Scalable, Profitable. How Do We Get There?, will spotlight the very real challenge of achieving lasting, transformative change across the entire fashion value chain.
As Quoted in Vogue Business
FEL and Jenny’s comments recently featured in the Vogue Business article, “What would it take to decentralise UK fashion?” by Sophie Benson, published 13th October 2025.
The article explores how the British fashion industry can evolve beyond its London-centric model and build thriving creative and manufacturing hubs across the UK. Jenny Holloway contributes vital insight into the realities of the UK’s garment production sector, particularly in cities like Leicester, once home to over 15,000 manufacturing jobs.
“Skills are ready and waiting to be tapped into,” Holloway commented. “But without a strong factory base, we haven’t got a fashion industry.” She called for a national directory to connect UK brands with local makers from mills and dyers to cut-make-trim units and recyclers to support a more resilient, circular fashion economy.
Super Sale 25th October at FC Designer Collective
FEL’s shop, the FC Designer Collective, 113 – 115 Fonthill Road, Finsbury Park, London is holding a 1-day super sale: Saturday 25th October. Doors open at 10am and we recommend getting there early to find unique designs, fabrics, trims, accessories and more!
FC Designer Collective, 113-115, Fonthill Road, London N4 3HH. (Finsbury Park tube station)
Supporting Anti-Slavery Week
This week is Anti-Slavery Week, an annual initiative dedicated to raising awareness about modern slavery, human trafficking, and labour exploitation. The week culminates on Anti-Slavery Day, October 18th, and serves as a crucial reminder that slavery is not a relic of the past but a present-day reality affecting millions worldwide.
At Fashion-Enter Ltd, we believe ethical practices start at the source. Our Fast Forward-audited factory ensures transparency, fair working conditions, and zero tolerance for exploitation.
“As we approach Anti-Slavery Week, we stand firm in our commitment to fair treatment, decent working conditions, and ethical manufacturing.”
Through our educational arm, Fashion Technology Academy (FTA), we are actively working to educate and empower workers through training. Thanks to the UK Shared Prosperity Fund (UKSPF), FTA Leicester has, once again, been funded to deliver employability and workers’ rights training to 45 individuals by March 2026.
We’re proud to report strong progress: Last month, 15 learners successfully completed our first Level 1 course on Workers’ Rights and Labour Exploitation. This timely milestone aligns perfectly with Anti-Slavery Week, reinforcing the message that awareness and education are essential tools in fighting exploitation.
Grow London Local: Meet the Founder
Join Grow London Local in bringing together Black and ethnic minority founders from across London – connect with like-minded entrepreneurs, share insights from your journey and get help with the challenges of running your own small business. In this session, learn about the power of community in business and the importance of building networks and communities to help your business grow.
The Wednesday 29th October edition will feature guest speakers:
Dr Chinedu Agwu, CEO and founder of BioSci Toolkit
Ryan Panchoo, founder of Borough 22 Doughnuts
Taking place 12pm-2pm (with optional networking until 3pm) at The Africa Centre, 66 Great Suffolk Street, London SE1 0BL
Spaces are limited – to find out more and book your place tap here.
Repair and Upcycle Free Bi-Monthly Drop In
We are in a unique position to offer FREE repair and upcycling sessions at our shop – FC Designer Collective on Fonthill Road – thanks to support from Islington Council. To join this friendly and informal workshop with equipment and support on-hand please register your place on our eventbrite page. The next workshop will take place Tuesday 28th October.
Courses Workshops and Masterclasses
Roll-on courses:
Available at all campuses Islington, Haringey and Leicester.
Diploma in Fashion Design and Business
Fashion Illustration:
30th October – 2-Day Fashion Illustration for Beginners – FC Designer Workspace – £90 + eventbrite fee
Introduction to Draping
8th November – Introduction to Draping – FC Designer Workspace – £45 + eventbrite fee
Corset Making:
25th October – Saturday Introduction to Corset Making – FC Designer Workspace – £45 – eventbrite fee
27th – 29th October – 3-Day Corset Making for Beginners – FC Designer Workspace – £135 + eventbrite fee
Repair & Upcycling:
28th October – Free Repair and Upcycling Drop-In – FC Designer Collective shop – free
For all course enquiries contact: education@fashion-enter.com or call 0208 809 3311
This Week on FashionCapital…
Exploring Careers in the Fashion Industry: Roles Behind the Scenes
And Finally…
Today, 15th October, members of the FEL team are at the Drapers Inner Circle Summit. Attendees include invited CEOs and founders of fashion retail businesses. The day-long event features key industry speakers delving into modern leadership, transformative business models and responsible growth strategies. A review of the summit will be posted on FashionCapital in due course.
To join industry conversation check us out on the following social media platforms:
Until next time, have a great week.
From the Team at FashionCapital/Fashion-Enter Ltd
