A New Age of Fashion Makers
25-06-2025
Newsletter 25th June 2025
The Design / Make Divide
Designing, making and selling clothes are all part of a garments lifecycle and yet as Sophie Benson recently identified in her article: ‘Can British fashion coax Gen Z onto the factory floor?’ for Vogue Business: ‘The UK’s fashion industry is critically imbalanced. Every year, thousands of young people enter the university education funnel with dreams of becoming fashion designers, merchandisers or stylists — jobs associated with the glamorous façade of the industry. But the number of people lining up to learn to cut, knit, weave or sew clothes has waned drastically, resulting in an incoming workforce with big ideas but limited technical know-how.’
This division is nothing new – with manufacturers in desperate need for pattern cutters, garment techs and multi-skilled machinists, while the creative, design end of the scale is inundated with applicants. One cannot work without the other, and as manufacturing begins to incorporate more tech, innovation, made-to-demand, repair, repurposing and essential transparency, the tide is beginning to turn.
Interested in learning more about stitching, patterns or upcycling? Visit our eventbrite page for our wide range of short courses. Or for longer, accredited courses go to: https://fcfta.com/courses/
Meet Maeknit Inc
Did you know Maeknit Inc, the rapid knitwear swatching & development service has a branch at FEL Haringey? Visiting groups, from education or on a CPPD, taking the Factory Uncovered tour, have been blown away by the cutting edge tech that takes a design from sketch to sms in weeks – rather months.
FEL CEO Jenny Holloway said: “FEL’s collaboration with Maeknit Inc, alongside United Repair Centre and Style3D is essential to create true and transparent services – that can be accessed all under one roof.”
Tap here for more on FEL’s services, or here for seminars and tours.
Bearing Gifts at HMP Leicester
This Friday 27th June 2025, FEL team members will attend HMP Leicester for the official launch of Bearing Gifts, the event offers a unique opportunity to witness transformation in action.
Bearing Gifts empowers prisoners to repurpose textile waste into beautifully handcrafted patchwork teddy bears. Each bear sold funds the donation of a twin bear to a child in need, creating a symbolic and tangible bridge of empathy between prisoners and the wider community.
Guests will hear from Paddy, the prisoner whose creativity and determination sparked the idea. Attendees will also tour the prison workshop, where the bears are made, and meet the dedicated team and partners (including FEL) behind the project.
Circular by Design: Global Stories for a Regenerative Textile Future Report
In April 2025, FEL and the FTA in Haringey proudly welcomed Lisa Piller from Australia’s International Specialised Skills Institute as part of a global research tour investigating innovation in sustainable fashion and circular textile systems. Her visit formed part of a broader Fellowship titled Circular by Design: Global Stories for a Regenerative Textile Future, which has now been officially published and is available for download.
To find out more and download the report tap here
Fashanne Awards and Show – 26th June
Fashanne – Fashion Designers of the Future – Awards are the Midland’s largest and most renowned fashion awards for third & final year university students. Tomorrow, Thursday 26th June, sees the return of its live show at the iconic St Mary’s Church in Nottingham. A celebration of innovation, inclusion, and the very best of emerging design talent, Fashanne 2025 promises to be the most exciting show yet!
Founded by broadcaster and journalist Anne Davies almost a decade ago, the Fashanne Awards are where the future of fashion meets the industry’s biggest names. With representation from top universities across the Midlands, including De Montfort, Nottingham Trent and Birmingham City, this year’s awards will spotlight the next generation of fashion designers, all showcasing their work live in front of industry leaders from Next, Paul Smith Foundation, Pentland Brands, ITL and ASBCI – Association of Suppliers to the British Clothing Industry and many more, media, and style influencers.
(Giselle Kandekore from De Montfort University, also showed on the Leicester Made catwalk, has been shortlisted for the Athleisure Design Award and High Street Menswear Award)
Tickets for the Fashanne 2025 Live Awards Show are available now at Fashanne.com
Evo Learning Business Support Programme
Delivered by Fashion District and Evo Learning, Evo Fashion is a free four-month business support programme launching in October 2025 for emerging fashion brands and fashion technology businesses.
The programme is suitable for designer brands that embrace circular or regenerative practices, or start-ups with science or technology-driven solutions for the fashion and/or materials industries. From new materials to resale, rental to recycling, digital passports, production software, retail and e-comms, Evo are looking for fashion innovators, disruptors and entrepreneurs who are changing the face of fashion.
To find out more and apply tap here.
FTA Leicester Level 1 Stitching Free Places Available
The FTA Leicester has availability on its next Level 1 Award in Stitching SEG Awards Level 1 – Award in Fashion and Textiles (500/4308/0) – Fashion Technology Academy
Starting Monday 14th July for 5-weeks, this course is free for those residing in the Leicester City area, aged more than 19-years, with proper UK immigration status.
Days can be flexible to cover 20-hours per week (Please discuss with the enrolment team)
If interested contact: fcftaleicester@fashion-enter.com
Roll-on and Short Courses
Roll-on courses:
Available at all campuses Islington, Haringey and Leicester.
Diploma in Fashion Design and Business
Patterns:
1st July – 4-Day Trouser and Dress Block Pattern Cutting Course – FC Designer Workspace – £150 + eventbrite fee
Stitching:
28th June – Saturday Stitching Club – FC Designer Workspace – £45 + eventbrite fee
2nd July – 3-Day Introduction to Industrial Sewing and Garment Making – £135 + eventbrite fee
Draping:
26th July & 2nd Aug – Introduction to Draping in 2 Saturday sessions – FC Designer Workspace – £90 + eventbrite fee
Illustration:
12th & 19th July – Introduction to Fashion Illustration in 2 Sessions – FC Designer Workspace – £90 + eventbrite fees
Upcycling:
30th June – 1-Day Beginners Upcycling Workshop – FC Designer Workspace – £45 + eventbrite fees
8th July – Free Repair and Upcycling Drop In – FC Designer Collective shop – Free, please register
Advice and Support:
2nd July – Top 10 Tips to Create a Strong Partnership with Your Manufacturer via Zoom – Free, please register.
For all course enquiries contact: education@fashion-enter.com or call 0208 809 3311
This Week on FashionCapital…
Save the Date 8th – 10th July: Source Fashion Partners with ATMF to Boost British Manufacturing
And Finally…
Big congratulations to Peter Chandler recently appointed as Director of Tourism, Culture and Economy at Leicester City Council. We have no doubt that he will excel in his new role.
Until next time, have a great week.
From the Team at FashionCapital
