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Love Learning With Us!

24-05-2023   


Newsletter 24th May 2023

Learn Skills For Life With Us This Summer

We are pleased to offer new summer short courses ranging from 1 to 4 days to develop your stitching and making skills. Whether you are a beginner or more experienced our affordable sessions provide tuition at your own pace in a relaxed and friendly environment.

Take your pick from Beginners Stitching and Upcycling to Corset Pattern Making and Stitching. All six courses take place at the FC Designer Workspace, Studios 1 – 12, 9 Durham Road, London N7 7FB close to Finsbury Park tube station.

Please note places are limited, to find out more and book your place please visit the FashionCapital Masterclasses page.

Short Courses with FCFTA Leicester This Summer

FCFTA Leicester is also open throughout summer and able to offer an introduction to garment making courses to young people – this is a great way to see if fashion is a career for you. Courses are 1 day for £30 or 4 days for £75. 

To book a place please contact: divya@fashion-enter.com 

Free FEL Workshops at Westfield Good Festival

Join us at Westfield, White City, this bank holiday Monday for our free upcycling workshops and masterclasses on sustainability in fashion. Part of the Westfield Good Festival, (26th May to 4th June) FEL will be running:

Refreshed Threads  workshop 12 – 1pm, tap here to book.

The Perfect Fit workshop  2 – 3pm tap here to book.

Plus, our CEO Jenny Holloway will be discussing ethical and sustainable manufacturing throughout the supply chain from audits to greenwashing with her ‘Behind the seams of ethical and sustainable fashion’ masterclass, from 5 – 6pm tap here to book.

These sessions will also take place at Westfield, Stratford on Thursday 1st June to find out more about Westfield Good Festival and all the events taking place visit: https://goodfest.westfield.com/

Studio Spaces Available

Do you need a private studio space to develop and focus on your creative business?

At the FC Designer Workspace, Islington, N7, we currently have three studios available. Join our creative hub alongside like-minded individuals. The space is secure and adjoins a fully equipped community room, complete with cutting table and a variety of industrial sewing and production machines.

Supported by Islington Council the FC Designer Workspace offers highly competitive rates that are affordable for small businesses to flourish. 

To find out more please contact: beth@fashion-enter.com 

Today’s Free Masterclass

From 10am today FEL Director Caroline Ash has been discussing the importance of positive relationships across the supply chain. She shared her extensive knowledge on the manufacturing side of the business, essential information for any brand intending to develop their business.

Caroline delivers weekly Factory Uncovered tours and seminars at our Haringey HQ. This past week she has been kept busy with visits from the Fashion Retail Academy, Beth Jacob Grammar School, international fashion students from Montreal and Illinois State University, as well as a group of accountants from Alabama!

Feedback from these sessions has been excellent tap here to read the comments and visit the FCFTA website to find out more about our factory tours. 

Drapers Future of Fashion & Future Fabrics Expo 2023 

FEL CEO Jenny Holloway will join the Drapers Future of Fashion event, 8th June, where 30+ industry leaders will discuss the topic of “innovating for a new era”.  

Tap here to find out more about this event.

She has also been invited to speak on the 28th June at the up and coming Future Fabrics Expo, the largest dedicated showcase for sourcing certified, sustainable material solutions. 

She will join an industry panel which is connected to the curated display “Revival of the UK Textile supply chain: through the Sustainability lens” supported by Alexander McQueen.

Tap here to find out more about this Expo and to register.

Networking with Social Founders

Yesterday, 23rd May, Jenny Holloway attended the Social Founders Forum at EY London. She said: “It’s great to think that after winning the EY Entrepreneur of the Year award in 2013 that FEL is still highly regarded as a leading social enterprise. Thank-you to EY for hosting the event and Caroline Diehl, MBE, founder Social Founders for organising. Such inspiring guests that make you realise that being a social enterprise, putting the greater good over profits, is worth it all!”

Wales and PPE Continues – Still No Confirmation 

Thank-you to all who have been so supportive of our drive to retain jobs and grow Wales subject to the PPE tender for NHS Wales. A particular thank you to Jean Balmer of Welshpool who wrote to Minister for the Economy Vaughan Gething.

Skills and Education Group Conference 2023

FEL’s Deputy CEO Jackie Bertram spoke at the Skills and Education Group annual conference at the Leicester Marriott yesterday, 23rd May, and delivered a workshop with GLAA, WEA & Romanian and Eastern European hub, on better employment for all. Jackie talked about the successful Workers’ Rights and Labour Exploitation course, and the achievement of delivering 120 qualifications to date.

For more on the Workers’ Rights and Exploitation course

Masterclasses and Courses

Roll-on courses available…

Level 1 & 2 in Stitching

Level 1 & 2 in Patterns

Various Levels in Tailoring

Diploma in Fashion Design and Business 

If you are unemployed or low income (below £23,302.50), over 19-years-old, you could be eligible to join some of our courses for free. Email: education@fashion-enter.com to enquire.

Don’t miss out on our next free masterclass Top 10 Tips to Create a Strong Team and Partnership with Your Manufacturer taking place in the 24th May, sign up to confirm your place and to receive a Zoom link.

31st May – 2nd June Gerber Accumark for Beginners

31st July – 3rd August 4 Day Beginners Stitching and Upcycling

7th – 10th August 4 Day Beginners Pattern Cutting Course with recreation of your favourite personal garment

11th August 1 Day Upcycling and Repair Workshop (all levels)

16th – 18th August 3 Day Corset Pattern Making and Stitching Course (advanced)

22nd August 1 Day Reversible Tote Bag Stitching Course (beginners)

23rd – 25th August 3 Day Soft Furnishing Course (beginners)

Fabric Swatch of the Week

Inspired by the Chelsea Flower Show? How about this gorgeous blue floral print on super stretchy scuba? Available now at the FC Fabric Studio at £4.50 per metre.

This Week on FashionCapital…

How to take great product photographs for your website

And Finally…

FEL – The Next Steps 

As with all companies reviews have to take place and following the lack of orders from ASOS FEL is currently restructuring and reviewing new ways forward. More to be announced in due course.

Until next time, have a great week,

From the Team at FashionCapital (Sister company to Fashion-Enter Ltd)




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