Technical Skills Residency: TikTokxGFF
12-07-2021
It has been a fast-paced and highly creative 2-weeks here at the Fashion Technology Academy (FTA). Up to 60 selected fashion design graduates were invited to learn hands-on technical production skills while making their TikTok designed merchandise.
The 5-day block sessions took place at Unit 4 of the FTA and our experienced team of tutors were kept busy teaching and advising graduates on all aspects of their designs from CADCAM to digital printing and pattern cutting to stitching.
At the end of the five-day residency, split into two groups of 30 per week, the final day ended with a special visit from GFF Global Ambassador Henry Holland and Charlotte Dodds from TikTok. The pair got to meet each graduate, hear about what they had learned and review their finished designs. Alongside their designing, sampling and making the graduates also got a glimpse inside the ethical and compliant Fashion-Enter clothing factory.
Fashion-Enter’s Production Director Caroline Ash said: “It has again been an absolute pleasure working with the graduates. They really enjoyed the education they received both in pattern making and stitching skills and seeing the differences between producing one sample and how a commercial factory works. They were of course very interested in sustainability and produced some very innovative designs around this theme.”
Feedback from the graduates on the residency was excellent with many emphasising the amount of new skills they had learned and the encouragement and support they received from the FTA team.
Here are a few highlights:
“I had a great time and it was interesting to see how a factory works and to have more time and gain confidence in pattern cutting and sewing.” – Alina
“It’s been a wonderful experience making my TikTok designs come to life.” – Yasmine
“I had the best week at the TikTokxGFF merchandise and design competition. Thank-you so much for having me.” – Emily
“Really friendly team that gives a lot of advice. The experience and training has given me an insight into UK manufacturing and using sustainable options for my own business.” – Kyla
“The week helped me to learn different techniques and ways of doing things. I had not used software like Optitex before. The tutors and technicians were extremely helpful and want the best for you.” – Alice
“Amazing staff, skills and facilities. A great environment to learn and progress.” – Oratu
Fashion-Enter’s CEO Jenny Holloway added: “It’s been fantastic to run these two 5-day graduate residencies with our technical team at Unit 4 and credit to the TikTok & GFF for thinking outside of the conventional education box here! The feedback from the grads themselves absolutely sums up what we find…fashion is fantastic but you need the technical skills to go with design to be a true fashion creative today. We see time and time again graduates leaving unprepared for industry and then they come along to our FTA to learn real industry technical skills in a fun but demanding environment. We welcome all levels to our technical courses. Come and join us!”
The graduates have produced multiple garments of their selected winning design, which will now be gifted by TikTok to their Creator and VIP community.
With thanks to TikTok and the Graduate Fashion Foundation.
To find out more about the Fashion Technology Academy visit:
To find out about the Graduate Fashion Foundation go to:
https://www.graduatefashionfoundation.com/
