Keep Calm & Wear A Mask!
13-05-2020
Newsletter 13th May 2020
Dear all,
Back To School Masks
As the PM Boris Johnson recently announced the UK is easing into a relaxed version of lockdown with some returning to work today. Also in the pipeline is the reopening of some shops and for certain year groups – the reopening of schools. As you know Factory staff at Fashion-Enter have been working on medical scrubs, gowns, masks and snoods since the 1st April. We are also beginning to make masks for the general public, including a range of ‘back to school masks’ with matching scrunchies. Please find the 100% cotton fabric options available in the above header image. We also offer adult masks, which will be available to buy online via FashionCapital very soon.
Belles Masks
Our mask range will also extend to our in-house brand Belles of London. Every Belles of London order will receive a free mask! Stay safe all!
Did You Know We are a Family of Brands
Fashion-Enter is now 14-years old and over that time we have evolved and grown in various different ways. As a genuine social enterprise and one that aims for self-sufficiency rather than grants and handouts we have developed lots of services.
All the brands below are owned by Fashion-Enter Ltd;
Factory – Established in 2010 The Factory manufacturers up to 10,000 garments a week. The factory is focused on fast-track quality fashion, from idea concept to delivery, using stock cloth, within a three- four week period. It was graded as ‘Leading’ in a recent (December 2019) Fast Forward audit and is seen as a role model for ethical, fast track apparel manufacturing in the UK.
Couturier – In 2015 Fashion Enter created The Couturier, which specialises in high quality, top-end, short run production for brands and designers. Midway between the Fashion Studio and the Factory the Couturier can produce 51-499 units.
Fashion Studio – Established in 2008 the Fashion Studio creates first patterns, toiling, seals, grades and short run production from 1 unit to 300 units. The service also provides sampling without the construction of patterns e.g. press samples.
Fashion Technology Academy & Tailoring Academy – Are our educational divisions of the company dedicated to developing manufacturing skills within the UK. Courses include stitching, patterns, bespoke tailoring and essential apprenticeships within industry. Here we also run the highly successful Factory Uncovered seminars for accredited CPPD.
Belles of London and B of London – We have developed two in-house brands that are designed by individual members of the Fashion-Enter team. Each design is made right here in our North London Factory with made-to-measure options available.
FCFabricStudio – Offers affordable fabrics, haberdashery and patterns online.
FashionCapital – Is our core fashion portal, established in 2001 this industry resource also offers memberships for start-ups, designers and brands.
Industry Practitioners – We are involved with a variety of programmes that support industry such as N17 Creative Callings and Affordable Workspace in Islington which includes a retail shop opening on Fonthill Road once the lockdown is lifted.
NHS PPE – For Our Glorious Key Workers
The factory has geared up another level in the making of scrubs, gowns and chemically treated snoods. Reaching a total production of almost 20,000 units a week the factory team of machinists, cutters, pressers, finishers and quality controllers have pulled out all the stops as you can see by the images below…
A huge thank-you to the team!
Our latest orders are for gowns for the Royal Marsden and Royal Brompton thanks to Anya Hindmarch who has been very supportive.
Jules Walker (pictured above) works for Gieves & Hawkes lives locally and has come in wanting to help commented:
“It didn’t feel right to be stuck at home having 80% of my salary paid by the government and not using my skills to help in some small way so I was thrilled to be able to help out in a local factory making scrubs and gowns for such valuable frontline workers.”
Maintaining Optimum Safety for Our Staff
The health and safety of our staff is of upmost importance and is an area we have regularly reviewed since the start of COVID-19 pandemic. The Factory has a new guideline 8-page policy to ensure that all our staff, learners and visitors are safe with extended risk assessments now in process. These policies will be regularly reviewed as and when new information is released. For the latest in-house regulations please tap this link.
Meet Brooke Tate Fashion-Enter’s New Junior Designer in Leicester
Joining the Fashion-Enter team is Brooke Tate she will be our ‘eyes on the ground’ in Leicester. Brooke comments:
“I am Brooke Tate and I graduated from De Montfort University two-years ago. I studied Fashion Design during my time at Uni and I showcased my final collection at Graduate Fashion Week and was picked as one of the Top Ten Designers to look out for! Since then I have had the pleasure of working for a knitwear company in Leicester called Euro Rose and I also interned at The Sunday Times ‘Style’ magazine. I’m super excited to be joining the Fashion-Enter design team and experiencing another side of how the fashion world works. I think it’s great to branch out in all different areas of your passion! I am really looking forward to meeting the ASOS buyers and providing lots of fabric innovations from the heart of Leicester.”
Coming Soon…Fashion Design & Trend Forecasting Service
Keep yourself one step ahead of the curve for Fashion Design & Trend Forecasting. Track what’s new and what’s next – delivering trend forecasting and resource files across all product categories for inspirational ideas that will help you maintain a competitive edge in the fashion industry. FashionCapital has joined forces with Fashion File to provide this essential, much-required service at an affordable price point. Launching 1st June 2020 – more information on this exciting collaboration will be revealed in due course.
N17 Creative Callings Update
The N17 Creative Callings employer engagement programme recently held an online Zoom seminar on ‘What Makes A Manufacturer Ethical?’ Led by Caroline Ash the session was crammed full of essential, need-to-know information when working with a factory. You can find out more about the programme here: http://n17creativecallings.com/
If you have just started or are looking to grow a business in the Tottenham CEZ area, then please get in touch and we will advise on how N17 Creative Callings, supported by the Mayor of London and the European Social Fund, can help you and your business. Contact Esme: esme@fashion-enter.com
N17 Creative Callings Online Seminars Coming Soon…
How to Manufacture Your Garments Part 1 – Sampling and Small Run Production – 20th May
How to Manufacture Your Garments Part 2 – Bulk Production and Lean Manufacturing – 27th May
Other Courses:
Online Pattern Cutting Course with tutor support – ongoing
TR Pattern Cutting Taster Masterclass July – 4th July
Fabric Swatch of the Week
How about some vibrant orange cotton for a summery pair of trousers or a skirt. Available at £4 per metre at the FCFabricStudio.
This Week on FashionCapital…
Red Carpet Green Dress 2020 design competition now open.
Fashion-Enter CEO Jenny Holloway was recently featured as June O’Sullivan’s ‘Unsung Hero’ click here for the full story.
News hit the headlines that 400,000 gowns ordered from Turkey did not meet the required British safety standards, we ask why can’t more be done in the UK?
And Finally…
We received this lovely comment from Alexandra workwear:
Fashion-Enter is pulling out all the stops to keep medical professionals safe and comfortable. It’s thanks to this sort of proactive approach that we’re able to keep the supply of scrubs going out to our customers. Thank you Fashion-Enter Ltd/ FashionCapital! #scrubs #nhsengland
