A Date at the Palace!
08-07-2026
Newsletter 8th July 2026
FEL at Buckingham Palace
Today marks another proud milestone for Fashion-Enter Ltd as our CEO, Jenny Holloway, will visit Buckingham Palace to officially receive the prestigious King’s Award for Enterprise 2026 in Sustainable Development on behalf of the organisation. Following the announcement of this remarkable achievement in May, today’s Royal presentation celebrates the dedication, innovation and collective efforts of our entire team in championing sustainable UK fashion manufacturing, advanced technology, skills development and circularity. Receiving this award at Buckingham Palace is a fitting recognition of FEL’s mission to drive positive change across the fashion industry, and we are incredibly proud to share this special moment with our staff, partners, learners and supporters.
Jenny commented: “I am absolutely thrilled to be going to Buckingham Palace today on behalf of the wonderful team of Fashion-Enter for the King’s Award for Enterprise in Sustainable Development. I am a true royalist and I believe that this recognition shows the commitment dedication and real hard work that we have all undertaken over the last 20 years.”
More on this tomorrow!
Source Fashion Day 2
Source Fashion opened its doors yesterday at ExCeL London, bringing together brands, buyers and manufacturers for three days of collaboration, innovation and responsible sourcing. Fashion-Enter Ltd is exhibiting (stand E14) as well as the Apparel & Textile Manufacturing Federation (stand C3), showcasing the strength of UK fashion manufacturing and promoting a selection of leading Leicester-based suppliers, highlighting the exceptional skills and capabilities available within Britain’s textile sector.
On the opening day, FEL CEO Jenny Holloway joined Suzanne Ellingham, Event Director at Hyve Group, and Salli Deighton, Founder of LaundRE, for the panel discussion: The Reality of Manufacturing in the UK.
The session challenged outdated perceptions around cost and production capacity, demonstrating how agile UK manufacturers are helping brands respond faster to market demands while delivering transparency, flexibility and sustainable solutions. Jenny commented: “There is so much opportunity in UK manufacturing. We have the skills, the flexibility and the ability to respond quickly to trends, yet too many businesses still believe it’s not possible. We need to start making more noise about what this sector can do.”
The discussion also reinforced the importance of industry-wide collaboration, with Suzanne Ellingham calling for UK trade bodies to unite in driving greater recognition and support for British textile and fashion manufacturing.
Alongside the panel programme, designer and educator John Herrera captivated visitors with his Fashion Deconstructed workshop, showcasing craftsmanship, repair techniques and material innovation. Source Fashion continues today, 8th July and tomorrow, 9th July, providing a valuable platform for businesses to build partnerships and shape the future of responsible sourcing.
Source Fashion 7th – 9th July at ExCeL London: https://www.source-fashion.com/
Commercial Brands Continue to Blur the Lines with Designer Fashion
(Christelle Kocher for Levi’s® shot by Kayla Connors)
The boundaries between the high street and luxury fashion continue to narrow as commercial brands increasingly embrace designer collaborations and premium fashion platforms. This week, Levi’s partnered with Paris-based designer Christelle Kocher to unveil a 10-look capsule collection during the Paris Haute Couture shows, while Marks & Spencer announced it will make its London Fashion Week debut this September. These developments reflect a growing trend for established commercial retailers to strengthen their fashion credentials through creative partnerships, catwalk exposure and elevated design, demonstrating that collaboration across all levels of the industry is becoming an increasingly powerful driver.
Factory Floor Learning Brings Fashion Education to Life
Fashion-Enter Ltd was delighted to welcome the Boden team to its Haringey manufacturing facility for the latest Factory Uncovered Continuing Professional and Personal Development (CPPD) seminar, delivered by FEL Director Caroline Ash. Held twice a year as part of FEL’s ongoing partnership with Boden, the bespoke programme combines expert-led presentations with an immersive factory tour, giving delegates first-hand insight into every stage of the garment manufacturing proces, from product development and sourcing through to quality assurance, production planning and the latest innovations in AI and Style3D.
What sets FEL’s CPPD programme apart is its ability to bridge theory with practice. By taking learning directly onto the factory floor, fashion professionals and students gain a real-world understanding of modern UK manufacturing, seeing how design, technology and production work together to deliver quality garments. Delegates praised the engaging format, with many commenting that they had been exposed to processes and industry knowledge they had never encountered before. This unique blend of technical expertise and live manufacturing continues to ensure FEL delivers relevant, practical and industry-led education that supports better product development, stronger sourcing decisions and a deeper appreciation of responsible UK fashion manufacturing.
To find out more about FEL’s Factory Seminars and Tours tap here.
Make the Most of Summer with Fashion Skills for Life
Summer is the perfect time to learn a new skill, and the Fashion Technology Academy (FTA) Fashion Hub in Leicester is welcoming learners onto its roll-on Level 1 and Level 2 Stitching and Pattern Cutting courses throughout the summer. One of our current students, an Accounts undergraduate from the University of Nottingham, has been making the most of her summer break by learning pattern cutting from scratch, developing practical, lifelong skills while exploring a new creative discipline.
Whether you’re looking to start a career in fashion, enhance your existing skills or simply learn something new, our flexible roll-on courses provide expert tuition in a supportive industry environment.
To find out more about our Leicester Stitching and Pattern Cutting courses, contact Divya: divya@fashion-enter.com
If you’re based in London, our next Level 1 and Level 2 Stitching and Pattern Cutting cohorts begin in September, please contact Lan: lan@fashion-enter.com for further information and enrolment details.
FTA Islington – Open Day Next Week – 16th July
(FTA Islington at FC Designer Workspace)
Our next Open Day at the FTA’s Islington campus takes place next week – Thursday 16th July. Please register and come along to find out more about our UAL Level 3 Diploma & Extended Diploma in Creative Practice: Art, Design and Communication, starting this September.
Based at our FC Designer Workspace in Islington, this full-time course is perfect for 16–18-year-olds looking to develop their creative skills through hands-on projects, specialist workshops and industry-focused learning. You’ll build a professional portfolio, explore areas including illustration, fashion, textiles and digital design, and prepare for university or a creative career.
Come along to meet our experienced tutors, explore our creative studios, view student work and discover where this exciting course could take you.
Course starts: September 2026
Open Day: Thursday 16 July Tap here to register.
Location: FC Designer Workspace, 9 Durham Road, Islington, London N7 7FB.
SIRM College Job Expo
SIRM College will be hosting its first Job Expo, taking place on 17th July 2026 at City Gate Church Hall, Ilford. Unlike conventional expos that focus on collecting CVs, SIRM College creates direct pathways into employment through guaranteed work placements across a range of industry-led higher education programmes.
To find out more visit: https://www.sirm.ac.uk/
Courses and Workshops
Roll-on courses:
Available at all campuses Islington, Haringey and Leicester.
UAL Level 3 Diploma and Extended Diploma in Creative Practice
1 Day Workshops
10th July – Free ReFAB X FEL Upcycling Community Workshop – FC Designer Workspace – Free, please register
16th July – Fashion Technology Academy Open Day – Islington Campus – FC Designer Workspace – Free, please register
21st July – Free Repair & Upcycling Drop In Session – FC Designer Collective shop – Free please register
For all course enquiries contact: education@fashion-enter.com or call 0208 809 3311
This Week On FashionCapital…
Avery Dennison Announces ReadyDPP™ To Help Build Apparel Compliance for Digital Product Passports
And Finally…Putting Circular Fashion into Practice
At FEL, sustainability is more than a commitment – it’s embedded throughout our business. From responsible UK manufacturing and digital innovation to garment repair, repurposing and upcycling, we are passionate about keeping clothing in circulation for longer and reducing textile waste. It is this holistic approach to circular fashion that contributed to FEL receiving the prestigious King’s Award for Enterprise 2026 in Sustainable Development, recognising our leadership in driving meaningful change across the fashion industry.
We are continuing to put these values into action through our free, community Repair & Upcycling Drop-In Sessions at the FC Designer Collective on Fonthill Road. Supported by Islington Council, our next session takes place on Tuesday 21st July, from 10am – 4pm, where our expert technicians will be on hand to help repair, alter or creatively upcycle garments. Whether it’s extending the life of a school uniform, mending a favourite item or giving unworn clothing a new purpose, these free community workshops demonstrate how small actions can make a big difference in reducing waste and supporting a more circular fashion industry.
Until next time, have a great week.
From the Team at FashionCapital / Fashion-Enter Ltd
