2026 Starts Here: Events, Education & UK Manufacturing
07-01-2026
Newsletter 7th January 2026
Welcome back and Happy New Year! It’s great to be back with renewed energy for what lies ahead.
First up…Source Fashion 13th – 15th January
Fashion-Enter Ltd and the ATMF will once again have stands at Source Fashion trade event, taking place next week at Olympia London. Source Fashion features hundreds of garment manufacturers and suppliers from the UK and across the globe to offer a diverse range of sourcing options for brands and buyers.
The ATMF has secured free exhibition space for its members, offering a valuable platform to showcase UK capability to a global audience.
FEL will also host Repair & Upcycling Workshops: Giving Your Clothes a Second Life and will invite visitors to roll up their sleeves and explore the fundamentals of visible mending, garment repair and creative upcycling.
If you are attending Source Fashion please visit the Fashion-Enter Ltd & Fashion Technology Academy Stand M18.
Tap here for free registration
Be A Part of It – Leicester Made & Regions 24th – 25th April 2026
After a successful debut in 2025 we are thrilled to host a second Leicester Made, expanding to include UK Regions for 2026. Taking place 24th and 25th April at The Venue at DMU we have already gained initial interest from sponsors and exhibitors, which we will announce in due course.
In brief:
Day 1 Industry Friday 24th April is dedicated exclusively to industry, providing opportunities to source new partners, explore innovation and connect with leaders in manufacturing, sustainability and policy.
Day 2 Consumer Saturday 25th April open to consumers, spotlighting British-made products and repair and reuse initiatives. For businesses, early engagement is key – showcasing capability, strengthening regional and national networks, and meeting rising demand for UK production.
Tap the links to register your attendance. For those interested in exhibiting / sponsorship please contact: beth@fashion-enter.com
FEL Featured in ASBCI Yearbook
The ASBCI Yearbook 2026 reflects a year defined by collaboration, innovation and meaningful industry leadership across the fashion, textiles and supply chain community. Throughout this edition FEL features across a range of pages:
Partner Interview with Jenny Holloway on becoming ATMF Chair
Leicester Made 2025
And Jenny’s fireside chat with Suzanne Ellingham of Source Fashion, delivered at the ASBCI Conference.
Tap here to view the ASBCI Yearbook 2026
Fashion Hub Leicester…
Today, Fashion Hub Leicester is pleased to be working in partnership with PEARL Initiative CIC, a community-led organisation supporting mental wellbeing, confidence building, and skills development for Black and ethnically diverse communities in Leicester. As part of this collaboration, Fashion Hub is delivering a two-hour sewing and garment repair workshop today – 7th January. The session is designed to support PEARL Initiative participants by introducing practical sewing skills while opening pathways into employability and further skills development.
Fashion Hub Masterclass for New Designers – 22nd January
The Leicester Fashion Hub is set to host an essential industry masterclass, New Designers: How to Work Successfully With UK Factories, aimed at supporting emerging designers as they prepare to take their first steps into production.
Taking place on Thursday 22nd January 2026 from 10:00–11:00am at the Fashion Hub Phoenix House, Leicester, the session will be led by industry expert Caroline Trend (intro slide above). The masterclass is designed to give new and early-stage designers a clear understanding of what UK manufacturers need before they can take on a project – helping to bridge the gap between creative ideas and successful production.
Tap here to reserve your free place
Courses Workshops and Masterclasses
Roll-on courses:
Available at all campuses Islington, Haringey and Leicester.
Diploma in Fashion Design and Business
Fashion Design:
9th, 16th 23rd & 30th January – Fashion Design for Beginners – FC Designer Workspace – £180 + eventbrite fee
Pattern Cutting:
24th Jan – Creative Pattern Cutting: Skirt Adaption – FC Designer Workspace – £45 + eventbrite fee
Corset Making:
17th January – Saturday Introduction to Corset Making – FC Designer Workspace – £45 + eventbrite fee
Fashion Illustration:
14th February – 1-Day Fashion Illustration for Beginners Saturday Class – FC Designer Workspace – £45 + eventbrite fee
Repair & Upcycling:
13th Jan – 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
Free Business Masterclass Online:
29th Jan – Understanding Fabric from Fibre to Finish – Free Online Masterclass 10am – 11am (register your place and a Zoom link will be emailed closer to the date)
This Week on FashionCapital…
How Independent Retailers Will Shape the High Street in 2026
And Finally…New Year New Brand
If you are thinking about launching your brand in 2026 we are here to help! FEL’s Fashion Studio supports designers from early development through to production with expert technical guidance, ethical manufacturing and the option to start with just 1 MOQ. To find out more contact: thefashionstudio@fashion-enter.com
Until next time, have a great week.
From the Team at FashionCapital / Fashion-Enter Ltd
