FashionCapital Newsletter

Dear all,

Apprentices Are Our Future

As we are in the midst of National Apprenticeship Week we can’t stress enough how integral apprentices are to our industry. As a leading provider of fashion, textiles and manufacturing apprenticeships we provide a unique learning environment situated alongside a live factory. Today we will proudly announce our ‘Apprentice of the Year’ here at Fashion Enter as well as feature feedback and the current apprenticeship posts we have available. ‘Happy Apprenticeship Week.’

And the 2019 Fashion Enter Apprentice of the Year is…

Kostandin Cyfeku

Congratulations Kostandin (Kosta), Lord Young came in especially to award him with his 2019 trophy.

Why Don’t You Hire An Apprentice?

Anyone living in England, over 16-years-old and not in full-time education can apply to be an apprentice in the Fashion Industry. The Level 3 and 4 Diploma for Fashion Studio Assistant has been designed to provide learners with the skills, knowledge and understanding necessary to work within the fashion industry, with a specific focus on working within a fashion studio.

We have patiently waited for four-years for this standard to be approved and it’s finally here! If you are a small to medium fashion enterprise looking to hire an apprentice then this Diploma could be ideal for your fashion studio. The apprentice will gain an insightful overview of the design and production process while undertaking day-to-day fashion studio tasks.

To find out more about the various pathways and topics covered click here.

For further information about this apprenticeship whether you are a potential apprentice or an employer please contact Lorna Tavares – Development Manager: lornatavares@fashion-enter.com

Level 5 Tailoring Apprentice Matthew Lam Talks Apprenticeships

“I am thrilled that I have chosen Fashion Enter as my first step into the fashion industry. When I first came to London, it was really frustrating to find a job with the qualifications that I had. I had been trying for a year, yet there was no reply from any company. That was the point I joined Fashion Enter and the Fashion Technology Academy and started my apprenticeship. 

“While I was working as an apprentice, I had worked for three different companies learning more than I ever had before. Fashion Enter provided me with a unique academic insight into the industry and the practicalities, which I needed in order to contribute to the industry. Today I am proud to announce that I am working for Harrods as a junior tailor whilst doing my Level 5 apprenticeship. I am so delighted to finally see the light at the end of the tunnel!

“I am continuously impressed by the knowledge and insight that Fashion Enter provide me with. All those classes that I took at their Fashion Technology Academy have made me immensely invaluable to my employer. I want to offer my heartfelt thank you for the guidance and support from everyone at Fashion Enter. It is because of the help from them that I have achieved the success that I have today.”

To find out more about the various apprenticeships with the FTA click here.

Apprenticeships Currently Available

Just in today…three new positions with N16 Vintage for an Assistant Garment Technologist, Assistant Production Apprentice and Design Assistant Apprentice, all can be found here.
Apprentice Merchandiser/Production Assistant with Fashion Enter Ltd. Reporting to the Production Manager the Apprentice Merchandiser/Production Assistant will facilitate production processes and assist the Merchandising team with daily tasks. From managing online sales, to ordering fabric, trims and components, to quality control, this is a varied role that would suit an organised, motivated individual that has a good understanding of the industry.
Sample Room Assistant with London Intimate Apparel Samples London Intimate Apparel Samples based in Wembley Park is looking for a Level 3 apprentice to work and train as a Sample Room Assistant. The company works closely with independent brands turning their design concepts into high quality garments supported by full tech packs and patterns ready for production. Working with a wide variety of fresh and innovative styles in swimwear and lingerie ensures that no two days are the same.
Sample Machinist at Lara Intimates Lara Intimates is a start-up women’s underwear brand making every product from sustainably sourced textiles in an all-female lingerie factory in East London. Lara Intimates also offers one of the widest bra size ranges in the world: 26A-36I and exists to celebrate women from design to production and customer experience. The company currently has an exciting opportunity for an Apprentice Sewing Machinist to work as a team member with Lara Intimates and their partner factory, Fashion Enter. The apprentice will spend 4-days per week working with the Lara Intimates team and 1-day per week at the Fashion Enter Factory & Stitching Academy.

To view the full apprenticeship job descriptions visit the FTA Apprenticeship Jobs page.

And to apply please submit your CV to apprenticeships@fashion-enter.com

In-House Jobs Currently Available

With company expansion on the cards we have two new positions available…
Fashion Studio Manager – Maternity Cover. The Fashion Studio, located at The Factory in North London, creates first patterns, toiling, seals, grades and short run production from 1 unit to 300 units for new and emerging designers and established brands. The Fashion Studio is looking for an experienced manager to provide maternity cover and ensure that designers and clients receive quality production that is on time and made to the highest possible standards. The ideal candidate needs to be highly organised, work well with the team, have excellent communication skills working with a wide cross section of people, have an eye for detail and be able to work on budgets and spreadsheets. As the company, Fashion Enter, is expanding there is continuity of a job after maternity cover.  
Fashion Enter – The Factory Machinist. The Factory is currently looking for a machinist to stitch garments as instructed, work with the bundling process as well as the sampling process when required. The ideal candidate needs to have stitching experience, maintain a high quality standard, be able to identify the correct machine settings required for different fabrics and styles, as well as be flexible to stitching different processes on a day-to-day basis.
To find out more and submit your CV please contact: Production Director Caroline Ash caroline@fashion-enter.com

World Book Day – 7^th March – FC Newsletter Subscriber Offer

As the UK celebrates World Book Day tomorrow, FashionCapital has collaborated with Bloomsbury to offer our newsletter subscribers an exclusive discount. Bloomsbury is the leading publisher in the field of fashion with hundreds of titles from basic fashion design, fashion marketing and management, creative pattern making, textiles design and research plus much more. Click here to view the FashionCapital/Bloomsbury Members Only page and browse the current selection of fashion books.

To receive your exclusive 35% off savings code subscribe to the FashionCapital Newsletter.

International Women’s Day 8^th March – Make It Happen

The ‘Make It Happen Spain 2019 Conference’ is deliberately coinciding with ‘International Women’s Day’ on the 8^th March. The conference brings a mix of interviews, speakers, stands, networking and opportunities. Our very own CEO Jenny Holloway will be there to discuss who are the real Belles of London and the ethos behind the in-house brand, she will also share her top tips for fashion business start-ups and being a female entrepreneur. The conference takes place on the 7^th and 8^th March in Marbella, Spain. For more information click here.

 

Time To Say A Big Thank-You to SBT and Chris North 

CEO Jenny Holloway has been a part of the Social Business Trust (SBT) Network for several years she is grateful for on-going support she gets from Chris North, a Principal at our corporate partner Permira. She said:“Fashion Enter is one of the earliest members to Social Business Trust and Chris has continued to mentor us. Chris has been absolutely outstanding and provided a depth of business insights that have steered us! An excellent pragmatist and an astute business leader. So a huge thank you to Permira for allowing this mentoring to continue and SBT for the amazing network they provide.” 

Introducing Grattitude

Exposed in the press in recent times was the industry-wide practise of incinerating unsold stock, a common practice with luxury labels that need to ensure their brand image is maintained which they have invested a good deal of time and money in. However, there has to be a better way that can benefit society, the planet and our eco-system while keeping a luxury brands’ integrity intact. Step forward Grattitude, a philanthropic fashion solutions company that can help high-end brands shift their unsold stock as ethically as possible.

Grattitude collaborates with fashion brands to determine the right way to reallocate their stock, from simply re-labelling, changing the hardware/buttons, or a complete re-design of the raw materials provided, amongst several other options. All clothing and accessory products will be processed and modified (where necessary) at Fashion Enter’s Factory in North London, the perfect partner given that it is a non-profit social enterprise that has been SMETA audited and has a leading status with the Fast Forward audit. The industry desperately needs to up its game in terms of environmental and social impact and Grattitude, along with Fashion Enter hope to contribute to some positive and workable solutions.

www.grattitude.co.uk

New Tailoring Beginner and Intermediate Courses

We have a new Tailoring courses due to start from the 13th March. On Wednesday’s from 9am to 3pm there will be tuition on how to create a bespoke, hand-basted tailored jacket, while Thursdays will concentrate on bespoke tailoring pattern cutting. These hands-on courses can be taken as a certificate, 3 units for Pattern Cutter Trousers, Pattern Cutter Jacket and hand-basting over 20 weeks, or as 3 separate awards at 10 weeks each. We are flexible to the needs of each learner. To find out more click here. Or contact: education@fashion-enter.com
 

Courses & Masterclasses

The next two-day Digital Pattern Grading course with Vetigraph will take place at the Fashion Technology Academy on the 18th and 19th March from 10am – 4pm each day. This two-day intensive course is ideal for either beginners or those with prior experience that need to build on their skills.

More Masterclasses:

Planning Your Range & How to Sell With Della Nelson – 28th March

TR Pattern Cutting 2-Day Master Course – 29th March

Essential Elements to Make your Pattern Production Ready – 13th April

TR Pattern Cutting Taster Masterclass – 13th April

Effective Trend Prediction For Your Brand – 17th April

Gerber Accumark Digital Pattern Making for Beginners 

Due to popular demand we now have a mid week course for Gerber on 12th, 13th and 15th March click here for more details.