Fashioning Your Future: Skills, Space & Inspo
12-08-2026
Newsletter 12th August 2026
Your Route Into Fashion Doesn’t Have to Start with a Degree
Good luck to everyone receiving their A-level and Level 3 results tomorrow, Thursday 13th August. Whatever your results, there are many routes into fashion. New research from Enginuity shows 90% of young people would consider an apprenticeship over a university degree, with practical experience, earning while learning and avoiding debt among the key drivers.
For those considering a future in fashion, textiles or garment production, why not start by trying it? The Fashion Technology Academy (FTA) offers practical, industry-focused courses in stitching, garment construction, pattern cutting and tailoring, with introductory courses starting from just five weeks – giving you the chance to develop hands-on skills and explore fashion without committing to a three-year degree.
Explore FTA courses and start your fashion journey: https://fcfta.com/courses/
FEL Level 2 Apprentice Sewing Machinist Required
FEL is currently recruiting for a Level 2 Sewing Machinist Apprentice to join its award-winning factory in Haringey, North London.
This is an exciting opportunity for someone who wants to build a career in fashion and textiles while gaining hands-on experience in a real working factory.
As a Sewing Machinist Apprentice, you will learn how to operate specialist industrial sewing machines, work with different fabrics and materials, follow production specifications, maintain quality standards and develop the practical skills needed to work within a professional manufacturing environment.
The apprenticeship includes 20% off-the-job learning, combining structured training with practical workplace experience.
Apprenticeship details:
- Level: 2 Sewing Machinist
- Location: Fashion-Enter Ltd, Haringey, North London
- Practical/on-programme phase: Typically 18 months
- Assessment period: Up to 3 months
- Training: 20% off-the-job learning
- Industry: Fashion & Textile Manufacturing
You don’t need to be an experienced machinist to apply. FEL is looking for someone who is reliable, motivated, willing to learn and passionate about developing their technical skills.
Fashion-Enter’s Haringey site combines a live manufacturing environment with specialist fashion and textile education, making it an ideal place to take your first steps into the industry.
Find out more about the apprenticeship and how to apply:
View the Level 2 Sewing Machinist Apprenticeship
Email: education@fashion-enter.com
Students and Designers: Need Space to Create?
Got an idea you’re itching to make real? With A-level results landing this week, it’s the perfect time to experiment, develop your skills and see where your creativity takes you.
FEL in Haringey and FC Designer Workspace in Islington both have hot-desking spaces available, with fully equipped studios, industrial sewing machines, pattern-cutting tables and everything you need to start experimenting and making garments.
Whether you’re a new designer testing an idea, a fashion graduate developing a collection or simply ready to get hands-on with your creativity, you can book a session and see what happens when an idea becomes something tangible.
Interested? Email Hawi at hawi@fashion-enter.com and get booked in.
Short Tailoring Courses With A Savile Row Master
Want to develop your tailoring skills without committing to a longer accredited course? FTA Islington / FC Designer Workspace offers a series of focused, unaccredited short courses with Savile Row master tailor Francesco Vuoto, giving individuals and small groups the opportunity to learn traditional bespoke techniques in a practical, hands-on setting.
From Introduction to Tailoring and Trouser Making to Waistcoat Making, Coat & Jacket Making and Bespoke Pattern Making, each course focuses on specific skills and techniques – from measurement taking and pattern drafting to hand-finishing, fitting and traditional tailoring construction.
Whether you’re looking to build your confidence, refine existing skills or explore the craft of bespoke tailoring before committing to a longer qualification, these courses offer an opportunity to learn directly from an experienced industry professional.
All courses take place at FTA Islington / FC Designer Workspace. Tap here to find out more about the courses.
To find out more or enquire about upcoming dates, contact Lan: lan@fashion-enter.com
A Corporate Away Day With a Difference
Take your team behind the scenes of FEL’s King’s Award-winning fashion factory and discover, learn and create together.
FEL and the FTA offer corporate experiences combining UK manufacturing, sustainability, innovation and hands-on creativity.
Teams can tour the factory, explore how garments are made and discover the role of technology, repair and circular fashion before getting behind industrial sewing machines to create their own upcycled pieces using deadstock and surplus textiles.
No sewing experience is needed. The workshops can be tailored to your team, with options including creative challenges, sustainability sessions, AI and digital fashion, and even a catwalk finale.
Perfect for team away days, ESG and sustainability programmes, innovation events, graduate programmes and client experiences, the sessions are designed to bring people together while leaving everyone with something they’ve made themselves.
Interested in creating an away day with a difference? Contact Beth: beth@fashion-enter.com to find out more.
Congratulations Genevieve Devine on a Successful Light House Residency
Congratulations to FC Designer Workspace resident Genevieve Devine on the success of her residency at The Light House in Soho.
Now on until 15th August, Genevieve is showcasing a new collection in the atmospheric Chinoiserie Showroom, bringing her distinctive world of salvage, craft, couture and slow fashion to one of Soho’s most exciting new fashion destinations.
The residency offers visitors the opportunity to discover Genevieve’s work up close, with private styling, made-to-measure and custom consultations alongside her collection of garments and jewellery, pieces that beautifully blur the boundaries between fashion and objet d’art.
The response so far has been fantastic, with Genevieve reporting a particularly warm reaction to both the new collection and the intimate experience of meeting clients in person.
Discover more about Genevieve’s work at https://www.genevievedevine.com/
Inspiring the Next Generation
Jenny recently gave Amtul and her nieces, who are currently studying textiles, a tour of FEL’s Haringey factory, offering an insight into the production process, new technologies and FEL’s emphasis on reprocessing and repair.
Amtul was full of positive praise and emailed Jenny to say: “Thank you so much, and I mean that profusely. We are incredibly grateful to you and the entire Fashion-Enter team for welcoming myself and my three nieces, including Soofiya, for the factory tour.
“The experience was truly invaluable. Seeing your operations first-hand, and learning about your commitment to ethical production, quality control, and training has given the girls such a strong and inspiring start to their studies and future careers in textiles. We really appreciate the time you and your team spent with us, especially knowing how precious time is.”
Sew & Upcycle With Us At Islington Sustainability Fair
FEL is joining the Islington Sustainability Fair on Monday 24th August, from 2pm–5pm at Islington Assembly Hall.
Come along to discover local sustainable businesses, services and community initiatives, and visit the FEL stand to learn practical sewing skills, including how to repair and upcycle garments using leftover and surplus textiles.
With clothing and electrical repairs, a community clothes swap, bike servicing, crafts, food, music and family-friendly activities, the fair promises a fun afternoon focused on sustainability, creativity and reducing waste, plus it’s free!
Tap here to find out more.
Courses & Workshops
Roll-on courses:
FTA campuses are located in Islington, Haringey and Leicester.
1 & 2 Day Workshops
25th Aug – Free Repair & Upcycling Drop In Session – FC Designer Collective shop – Free please register
1st & 2nd Sept – 2-Day Introduction to Industrial Sewing and Garment Making Workshop – FC Designer Workspace – £80 + eventbrite fee
1st & 2nd Sept – 2-Day Beginners Pattern Cutting Workshop – FTA Haringey Crusader Estate – £80 + eventbrite fee
For all course enquiries contact: education@fashion-enter.com or call 0208 809 3311
This Week On FashionCapital…
End of the Line For Unsold Stock Destruction
And Finally…Stitching & Pattern Cutting Courses Start This September
From September, the FTA will be welcoming new students to Level 1 and Level 2 Stitching and Pattern Cutting courses in both London and Leicester.
Designed to build practical, industry-relevant skills, the courses provide hands-on training in garment construction, industrial sewing and pattern cutting from beginner foundations through to more advanced techniques.
Whether you’re looking to start a career in fashion, develop existing skills or progress towards employment and apprenticeships, these courses offer a practical route into the industry.
Until next time, have a great week.
From the Team at FashionCapital / Fashion-Enter Ltd
