Love What You Do!

Newsletter 14th February 2024

Happy Love Day

The FEL team can feel the love this Valentine’s Day, from the 4-day courses at the Workspace and FTA to the repair drop-in at the shop. It is fantastic to see people from all ages and backgrounds learning how to make the most of their sewing and upcycling skills.

HOPE-FX Shop Launch

This Friday, 16th February, we are super excited to host a launch event for the first group of HOPE-FX participants. HOPE-FX project gives young people, who are recovering from mental health conditions, the chance to learn new skills and produce their own unique, t-shirt designs supported by the FEL team.

The finished HOPE-FX designs are now ready to be showcased and available to buy at the FC Designer Collective shop and the launch event will celebrate the participants achievements 

A big thanks to the North London Mental Health Partnership.

If you would like to see HOPE-FX designs or other pieces by local Islington based designers please pop by the FC Designer Collective shop, 113-115 Fonthill Road, London N4 – opening times: Tuesday – Saturday 10:00 – 17:00

Next Week – AI in Fashion Conference

Fashion-Enter Ltd’s AI in Fashion Conference in partnership with InnovateUK KTN and Style3D is a not-to-miss event. Key speakers include:

Dr Steve Morris (Innovate UK KTN) 

Eric Liu (Style3D, CEO) 

Anne Toomey (RCA) 

Kate Goldsworthy (Chelsea Arts) 

Hilde Heim (Manchester Fashion Institute)

Peter Witham (Designer)

Taking place on Wednesday 21st February at FEL’s HQ in Haringey, the conference will discuss the growing use of AI across the entire fashion production process; from textiles and design to manufacturing and track and trace.

Please note due to limited space the AI in Fashion Conference is an invite only event.

Job Opening at FEL: Fashion Studio Coordinator

We have an exciting opportunity for a Studio Coordinator to join our Fashion-Enter team. The successful candidate will be required to manage a busy Fashion Studio working across a variety of products with a high level of quality. If you are an organised, methodical, multi-tasking team player with detailed technical knowledge of garment construction, then this could be the perfect position for you.

Tap here to find out more and to apply.

Leicester Create Growth Funding Event

Last Thursday 8th February, the FEL team in Leicester held a Create Growth Funding event in partnership with the East Midlands Creative Consortium.

The aim of this programme is to provide free business support tailored to the specific needs of potential, high growth creative businesses. The event included guest speakers: Simon Platts; Former ASOS.com sustainable sourcing Director and Co-Founder of Recomme, Thami Schweichler, CEO United Repair Centre, and FEL’s Founder and CEO Jenny Holloway. 

The event was compared by Jackie Bertram; Deputy CEO at Fashion-Enter Ltd, Jackie commented: “This was a fantastic audience of creatives, enthusiasts and manufacturers who are all incredibly proud to be based in the East Midlands and are passionate about a positive future for the regions fashion and textiles.

“The open discussions in the room were positive and constructive with a real desire to promote Leicester as a city of opportunity. However, UK brands do need to reconsider investing in UK manufacturing and support the creative industries here in the UK. Leicester has the opportunity to lead on near-shoring and as a centre for circular fashion. It’s time for a new narrative.”

After-Work Tailoring Classes

We are pleased to offer a 10-week Introduction to Tailoring evening class at the FC Designer Workspace in Islington.

This introductory course provides an excellent opportunity to delve into the world of bespoke tailoring with 3-hour evening sessions. 

If you’re interested in tailoring but not wanting to commit to a full-time course, or maybe you would like a general overview, or want to learn some of the skills to supplement your existing sewing knowledge, then this course is perfect for you. 

We offer a thorough introduction to tailoring that will provide a solid foundation with opportunities for advancement to higher levels tailored to you.

The course will start in the evening 5 – 8pm, Monday 19th February, tap here for further details and to book.

Starting in April: Level 3 Diploma in Creative Practice, Fashion Design and Business

Enrolment is now open for our second cohort on our Level 3 Diploma in Creative Practice, Fashion Design and Business, open to ages 19+.

Commencing in April, this course explores a range of disciplines such as; fashion illustration, pattern cutting, sewing skills, marketing, and business studies, and will build on knowledge of traditional and digital printing skills using state-of-the-art technologies.

Students will be encouraged to develop an entrepreneurial mindset and will have the opportunity to create and manage their own brand using a live retail shop and website to sell their collection. This 1-year course is limited to 20 spaces, tap here to find out more and to apply.

From Stitching Student to FEL Employee

Meet Maria in this short YouTube video. Maria loved the Level 2 stitching course and has since gone on to inspire and teach others as well as land a job at the United Repair Centre.

Courses and Workshops Coming Up…

Style3D:

26th – 28th February Style3D for Beginners – £199 – Haringey campus

Stitching and Pattern Cutting:

For roll-on Level 1 and 2 (5 to 10 week) courses in Stitching and Patterns email: education@fashion-enter.com 

(If you are unemployed or low income (below £23,302.50), over 19-years-old, you could be eligible to join some of our Level 1 & 2 courses for free.)

Saturday Stitching and Pattern Cutting Clubs – (Currently sold out)

Free Zoom Masterclass:

27th February Navigating the Legal Maze: Demystifying Your Company’s Status, HMRC Requirements, and VAT in the Fashion Business

This Week on FashionCapital…

FEL to Support the YOOX Net-a-Porter The Modern Artisan Programme 2024

And Finally…

Good luck to Workspace studio resident Dreaming Eli with their on-schedule London Fashion Week presentation – due to take place this Friday 16th. We have seen the amount of hard work that has gone into this collection. Best wishes also to our various Fashion Studio clients that are also taking part. The FEL marketing team will be there to capture and report on all the action, please visit our social media pages for the latest updates.

Until next time, Happy Valentine’s,

From the Team at FashionCapital