Fashion – Enter Wales Celebrates 1st Year Anniversary
06-10-2021
This month, October 2021, Fashion-Enter Ltd celebrates the 1stanniversary of its Welsh division. Thanks to support from the Welsh Government Fashion-Enter was able to save over 70 former-Laura Ashley skilled production workers from unemployment by setting up a new production facility in Newtown, Powys.
Powys in Wales is steeped in garment manufacturing history, from the entrepreneur, Pryce Pryce-Jones providing the very first mail order service in local Welsh flannel goods in the 1870s, to Laura Ashley making it her production base for her fashion and lifestyle brand. Both Pryce-Jones and Ashley are a part of the incredible garment production heritage of the area and now Fashion-Enter is proud to continue this on-going legacy with a factory based in the Pryce Jones building housing a cluster of experienced garment workers.
With a long-term goal of longevity and ethical and sustainable practices the Welsh Fashion-Enter team have got to grips with updated manufacturing technology and a new way of working. The past year hasn’t been easy with the start of the Covid-19 pandemic and a series of lockdowns, however the team, when they could, got stuck in and produced some high quality garments for independent designers as well as leading online retailers.
Heading into a second working year the Fashion-Enter Welsh team are pleased to continue to support the next generation of garment industry workers via apprenticeships and kickstart schemes. Also in the pipeline is the development of an in-house kitchenware brand Spyce Jones, a textile recycling project and orders from the heritage brand Jaeger, now managed by M&S.
While high standard order fulfilment is essential Fashion-Enter Ltd as a company understands the importance of wellbeing and positive mental health for all its staff members. Regular get-together events and away days are organised and CEO Jenny Holloway is currently undertaking a Level 2 counselling course, which will in turn support the company’s core principles.
Annabella from the Welsh factory comments:“We are all so grateful to Jenny for believing in us and can’t believe that we have reached our first anniversary! We have all learnt so much and look forward to working with ASOS, NBrown, ISIF, Onesta, N16 Vintage, Urban Eden along with new customers in the future. We are also looking forward to the launch of Spyce Jones and we would like to extend a big thank-you to everyone in head office for all their help in the past year and continued support in the future years to come. A big thank-you from all your colleagues in Wales!”
The entire Fashion-Enter company are thrilled to have the Welsh team on board and with a new Fashion Technology Academy opening in Leicester the company is dedicated to the on-going growth and development of Made in the UK garment production.
Happy 1stAnniversary Fashion-Enter Wales and here’s to many more!
