Cultivating Community Creatives!
05-08-2020
Newsletter 5th August 2020
Dear all,
Creative Community Hub Now Open!
The FC Designer Collective on Fonthill Road is now open and looking fantastic! Yvonne, Jenni and Leyla opened the refitted store on Saturday 1st August with a customer ready and waiting for Leyla’s alteration service. FC Designer Collective is more than just a fashion stockist – it is a community hub for local creatives and makers. Alongside fashion the store stocks cards, gifts, lingerie, accessories, masks, fabrics and haberdashery and provides additional services such as alterations, repairs, bespoke making and stitching classes.
If you are a creative based in the London borough of Islington and would like to get involved please contact: fcdesignercollective@fashion-enter.com
With special thanks to Islington Council, Mayor of London Good Growth Fund and LEAP for making the FC Designer Collective possible.
Click here to find out more about the Collective.
Please pop by and visit us at the FC Designer Collective, 113-115, Fonthill Road, London N4 3HH. Shop opening days / hours: Tuesday – Saturday 10:00 – 17:00
Calling FE & HE’s – Do You Need Technical Help for your Design Students?
While the UK produces some of the most innovative and creative design talent in the world those working in industry will often state that many design graduates have very little construction knowledge and understanding. That’s where Fashion-Enter can help, our team of industry experienced tutors can fill in those fundamental gaps and provide hands-on experience using industry level software and machines.
The recent Graduate Fashion Foundation (GFF) and TikTok week-long residency at Fashion-Enter’s Tailoring Academy provided the perfect example of this. 58 Class of 2020 graduates spent a week with the team creating their own unique designs for a bespoke line of merchandise for the European TikTok team. The feedback from the graduates was extremely positive.
According to the GFF and their member colleges and universities out of 1200 fashion design students most had only made 1 – 2 outfits, 6 – 8 outfits being the norm for a graduate collection. This is where Fashion-Enter can support and help those students and universities wanting to finish their collections. As with the GFF x TikTok residency we can provide the facilities and expertise that the students desperately need.
We have an amazing, fully equipped space in Haringey, north London, where numbers can be limited to ensure social distancing measures are adhered to. Also, as we have done with previous students, we can provide a wide range of fabric, threads and trims at a much lower cost than the usual sources.
Please contact esme@fashion-enter.com if you would like to find out more about the space and service that we can offer.
Supporting London’s Creatives: N17 Creative Callings
N17 Creative Callings is a brilliant business support initiative set up to ensure continual development and growth of creative businesses and start-ups in the Tottenham area of north London. Click here to view our recent YouTube interview with N17 participant Lauren and find out how the programme has helped and supported her and her creative businesses.
Another N17 participant Tram is making great strides in setting up her new label – in six-weeks she will be launching after making her own patterns following her free course on Level 2 pattern making with tutor Julia.
To find out more and join the N17 Creative Callings programme visit: http://n17creativecallings.com/
Experienced Machinists Required
Since we have been advertising for experienced machinists we have had five individuals join the merry team in north London. We still have a few more positions to fill so if you are an experienced industrial machinist looking for work then please get in touch with Caroline. caroline@fashion-enter.com
Today’s Virtual Open Day & Tour
For those wanting to know about how we work and the services we provide this morning we held a virtual open day and tour. The session took place via zoom and enabled new designers / brands to fully understand how we operate and how we can support their clothing label.
Development Director Jenni Sutton began the session with an introduction and overview of who is Fashion-Enter is, our mission statement, the areas of production capabilities, short stitching and pattern cutting courses in the FTA, business support services including masterclasses, mentoring and the soon to be launched business bundles.
Following this overview Caroline Ash, Production Director went into great detail about the processes of working with the Fashion Studio from the initial consultation through to delivery. Caroline talked through what a tech pack is, the measurement chart, importance of fit, a fitting log, what occurs before production, a cutting docket, the fabric and trims inventory list, delivery and an example of a confidentiality agreement. Caroline then took the group on a virtual tour of the Fashion Studio showcasing the pattern room and the sample machinists.
Many thanks to those that attended this session.
To find out about our Sampling and Production Services click here.
We’re Still Making PPE!
Fashion-Enter factory is still buzzing with PPE orders alongside our retail clients, Belles of London, masks and independent designers. Fashion-Enter CEO Jenny Holloway comments: “We’re delighted to be working with Private White on PPE – still doing our part for the NHS. Huge thank-you to Mike Stoll and Kasia for their support.”
Courses and Masterclasses
Stitching Academy Level 1 & 2 courses are on a rolling 6-weekly programme to find out more tap here.
Pattern courses Level 1 & 2 are also on a rolling programme with places available.
Additionally we provide tailoring courses at our state-of-the-art Tailoring Academy.
Gerber AccuMark 3-day Course for Beginners –19th, 20th, 21st August.
Following the success of the recent N17 Creative Callings masterclasses held via Zoom we have launched the following dates:
Start your Fashion Brand Today – 12th August 10.00
– 12.00
How to Manufacture your Garments Part 1 – 19th
August 10.00 – 12.00
How to Manufacturer your Garments Part 2 – 26th
August 10.00 – 12.00
How to sell your Brand online – 9th September
10.00 – 12.00
Fabric Swatch of the Week
Inspired by the Pantone colour of the year for 2020 we have gone for this classic blue in super light chiffon. Available from the FCFabricStudio at £3.50 a metre.
This Week on FashionCapital.co.uk
Virtual reality alternatives provide the way forward for fashion buyers.
BFC Foundation Fashion Fund for the Covid crisis reopens for a second round.
Supporting design students and graduates with technical expertise.
And Finally…
We love to hear feedback on any of our products and services, here is a recent comment from face mask customer Sue: “I love my cotton masks. Reusable and very good value for money. Even better knowing that they are made in the UK!”
Tap here to view our cotton masks.
