Fashion Students Might Be Getting Stitched Up!

Recently reports are saying that too may fashion students are coming out of university and college without vital skills you need for the fashion world. This subject needs to be discussed more as it is imperative for the success of British trading within the fashion world.

Students are not being given enough knowledge in the classrooms and lecture halls; the basic skills required to work in the fashion industry are not sinking into the young minds of today. There are 3,000 students leaving fashion education every year and when students come out of their course they still have to do many work placements in fashion industry like basic sewing and pattern making for an average of 3 months before employment commences if the employer deems the individual suitable for the role. There have been reports that students who have done a whole year on a fashion course without knowing the vital skill of creating a basic block; the foundation for creating a garment.

The consequences could be vast if this issue is not tackled, the problem seems to have arisen as a result of aspiring young fashion enthusiasts not being formally introduced to the extensive range of roles available in industry hence the churning out of creative designers, lacking inn the technical knowledge. This will also inevitable effect the reputation of the UK fashion industry as, according to Skillfast, more than 2,000 fashion and textiles employers have found that 5% of the workforce – 17,000 people hyave stayed on beyond retirement age because their business cannot find suitably skilled younger replacements. This could severely damage the face of London Fashion Week in years to come and hence why FashionCapital is tackling this problem head first.

FASHION CAPITAL is combatting this issue directly via the integration of industry with education via work based learning seminars and workshops with students at all levels of education from primary school all the way through to Further and Higher Education. The Design Cycle and Knowledge Bank sections are primary exammples of how to not only condsider the practical and design elements of fashion but highlights the importance of business and turning ideas into profit.

 

 

 

The Stitch in Time programme is another example of Fashion Enter training individuals within the borough of Haringey these essential basic practical skills which are not being taught in FE and HE institutions to give individuals the greatest chance of securing roles in high demand within the fashion industry via the next generation.

For more information on educational opportunities with Fashion Enter and FashionCapital.co.uk, please contact emily@fashioncapital.co.uk. 

By Luke Ritta&Emily Tullett