Introducing Rakhee Townsend: Championing Creativity, Enterprise and Fashion Education

With more than 30 years’ experience across the UK fashion and textile industry, Rakhee Townsend has built an impressive career spanning manufacturing, product development, consultancy and education. Based in Leicester, she is passionate about sharing her knowledge to inspire the next generation of creative talent while helping businesses and individuals thrive within the fashion industry.

Rakhee began her career supplying garments directly to multiple high street retailers, working closely with Leicester manufacturers and gaining extensive experience across every stage of the fashion supply chain. Following changes within the retail sector, she transitioned into consultancy, where she now works with fashion brands, retailers and start-up businesses to transform ideas into commercially successful products.

Drawing on decades of industry experience, Rakhee supports businesses through every stage of their creative journey, from design and sourcing to manufacturing, branding and commercial strategy. Her unique understanding of both the creative and commercial aspects of fashion enables her to provide practical, real-world guidance that delivers lasting results.

Recognising that many young people, graduates, aspiring creatives and emerging businesses lacked access to industry knowledge and professional networks, Rakhee founded Fashion Art Design Studio CIC (FADS CIC). Her vision was simple: to make valuable industry expertise accessible to everyone and help bridge the gap between education and employment.

Today, FADS CIC supports schools, colleges, universities, graduates, community groups, SEND learners, NEET young people, educators, start-up brands and new creative businesses. Through practical workshops, mentoring and industry-led programmes, Rakhee equips participants with the creative, commercial and entrepreneurial skills needed to progress into employment, self-employment or further education.

Whether introducing young people to fashion for the first time, supporting graduates entering the industry, working with educators to enhance creative learning or mentoring new fashion entrepreneurs, Rakhee’s mission remains the same: to build confidence, encourage enterprise and create opportunities through shared industry knowledge.

Having worked across every stage of the fashion supply chain, Rakhee understands the realities of fashion manufacturing today as well as the importance of innovation, sustainability and commercial awareness. Her experience allows her to connect education with industry, ensuring learners and businesses alike benefit from practical insight that reflects today’s fashion sector.

Fashion-Enter Ltd is proud to be supporting and working alongside Rakhee as she continues to expand the reach and impact of FADS CIC. Her extensive industry expertise, commitment to developing future talent and passion for making creativity accessible align closely with the shared ambition of strengthening skills, enterprise and opportunity within the UK fashion and textile industry.