Yan To and The Workshop

Yan To came to the Workshop in search of support to start his 2010 collection and found more than he bargained for. Currently running the Sitich in Time program with Haringey Council the Workshop supports aspiring ‘fashionistas’ to follow their dreams by providing a lunch pad to begin their careers in the fashion industry.

Upon visiting the Workshop for production, Yan was introduced to students from the SIT course and offered to provide his brand as a way to inspire the students while using their skills to assist him in the design process.

With London Fashion Week quickly approaching Yan and student Patricia Whyte worked hard to develop the range Yan has named Haringey. Although the designing is finished for this season The Workshop looks forward to the future project we can run with Yan.

A letter from Yan to the Workshop in response to the creation of his collection Haringey:

Hi

It was a pleasure to speak to you today. I am so indebted to your organisation and the Workshop in Haringey.

I do not come from a normal fashion background as I am an advertising man by trade. I was given the chance to follow my dream last year with the support of my wife and three small children.

When I came to put my AW10 collection together for an exhibition at on/ off, I had set my stall out to create the collection from my own studio. Through circumstance and fate, I was badly let down by a few people and was left in early January with no collection and no hope.

At that point I spoke to Kosa, who invited me to do my sampling at the Workshop and also to work with the people on the Council backed scheme. It was such a humbling experience to work alongside a group of people who had no obvious fashion credentials, but had the spirit, courage, commitment and work ethic that would shame any fashion student I have come across. In the 4 weeks that followed, we developed the collection and worked on a new technique of garment making, which will debut at on/off.

I felt a spiritual connection to the Workshop and the people of Haringey as they epitomised all that is real and honest in the world of fashion. It is for that reason that I was drawn to entitling my collection Haringey. My previous 2 collections were titled 0 and 1 as I did not feel strongly enough about anything to title it otherwise, but it is my honour to draw the attention of the fashion world to the Workshop and Haringey.

It has already cause a reaction as the Metro are doing a piece on me and are especially interested in the title. I was recently mentioned on vogue.co.uk as one of two designer exhibitions at on/off to look out for.

My intention is to create any orders I get a the Workshop and on the pieces that require hand sewing, I will of course employ Haringey people.

For this reason, I am looking to raise sponsorship so that I can go to Paris in during Paris Fashion Week, to participate in Vauxhall Fashion Scout’s showroom, which attracts buyers from around the world. You will be sure that I will be spreading the word regarding the Workshop and Haringey to this audience, if given the chance. It would cost at least £3,000 to participate in Paris so sponsorship would be gratefully received, as is the support from my new spiritual home.

My pledge is that no matter how successful I become, I will always devote some time each season to work with people on your amazing scheme. I am well equipped to spread the word as I am also a partner in a PR company which gives me an understanding of how to spread the word effectively and swiftly.

Time is obviously of the essence as London Fashion Week is approaching and places are being filled.

I have a piece in Metro nationwide on Thursday when I will introduce the world to Harringey AW10 and speak extensively about the area in general and the workshop in particular.

Best wishes and thanks.

Y

Yan To