#MadeinUKday – Today & Everyday
09-03-2022
Newsletter 9th March 2022
Made in UK Day – Today & Everyday
Today, 9th March, the Make It British team are championing ‘Made in UK Day’. The UK manufacturing industry is worth £192 billion to the UK economy and employs 2.7 million people. If every person bought just one item made in the UK worth £20 on #madeinukday it would be worth £1.3 billion!
Make It British have conducted a survey and the results reveal that the pandemic and Brexit have changed the way that UK consumers shop, with over two thirds now more likely to buy UK-made products than ever before.
Whether you are a consumer or a business find out how you can get involved with Made in UK Day here.
Kornit Digital & Fashion-Enter Fashtech Innovation Centre Launch Success
As keen advocates of Made in UK manufacturing our Fashtech Innovation Centre with Kornit Digital is paving the way for on-demand, micro-factory garment production. The launch of the Centre a UK first, on the 3rd & 4th March, was extremely well received by press and industry.
Kornit Digital CEO Ronen Samuel and Fashion-Enter CEO Jenny Holloway officially ‘cut the ribbon’ to open the Centre. They were joined by Chris Govier, President Europe, Middle East, and Africa, Kornit Digital, all three spoke about the concept and how the technology is highly efficient and sustainable. Chris Govier said:
“We are pleased to put these technologies on full display in our new joint Fashtech Innovation Centre and bring on-demand manufacturing back home to the UK. Whether you’re a brand, apparel provider, custom fabric fulfiller or creative designer wondering how to handle the next major market disruption, grow product lines, create a more eco-responsible and accountable production floor – or just want to waste less – the Innovation Centre will help you achieve these goals.”
Press coverage from the launch so far includes Just-Style, Apparel Resources & Print Monthly.
To read all about the launch tap here.
Fashion-Enter Talks to Jeremy Kyle Today!
Today at 4:45pm our very own Production Director Caroline Ash will be interviewed by TV talk show host Jeremy Kyle on Talk Radio.
Caroline will be talking about her commitment to teaching valuable skills, why apprenticeships are good for business and how apprenticeships create the perfect opportunity for long lasting careers.
To listen to the interview tune in to Talk Radio or visit their website at 4:45pm.
Campus News…
FCFTA Leicester
On Friday 4th March Fashion Technology Academy in Leicester started to provide ESOL classes. These classes are free and supplied by the LCC. They are being offered to learners of Level 1 Stitching but also open to people in the local area who would like to improve their English speaking skills.
It’s great to welcome the third cohort of learners on the Level 1 stitching course at the Leicester Campus, funded by the Community Renewal Fund.
Jackie Manager of FCFTA (Leicester): “It’s great to see the demand for this course growing, it’s a fantastic introduction to textiles and supports learners to gain a new skill. This can lead to a job in the textile industry or just learn to sew for domestic reasons. It’s great to see the learners confidence and ability grow throughout the course.”
Daniela Hutmanova is just completing her Level 1 Stitching Qualification at FCFTA Leicester, funded by the Community Renewal Fund. Daniela has been an excellent student, she has practiced and delivered work to a high standard. She has also volunteered to support at the FTA. We are therefore delighted that Daniela has secured a job at Ethically Sourced Products. Great to see our students moving into the Leicester Textile Industry.
Daniela comments: “I like sewing and this course helped me improve my skills. The last unit helped me understand production process.”
FCFTA in Leicester celebrated International Women’s Day on 8th March. This was a great opportunity for us to celebrate our strong, proud and diverse learners here at the academy.
It takes courage and determination to enrol on a new course, to learn new skills and to often be outside of your comfort zone, however it can also be fun, exciting and empowering. Our learners at Leicester continue to amaze us with their commitment and talent. Here they are breaking the bias!
Fashion-Enter Wales
Over the past week Annabella and Judith took part in a local jobs fair, held in the Pryce Jones Building and a Newtown Employer Engagement event at NPTC Colleges.
At the jobs fair the pair were looking to recruit 30 sewing machinists as well as sign up learners for the Free Level 1 Stitching course available at the Welsh campus until the end of July. Places are filling up fast, so if you are interested in learning from the best seamstresses, some of whom are ex-Laura Ashley staff with more than 30-years’ experience, then please contact: info@fashion-enter.com Tel: 01686 248148
The Level 1 course is running from the following dates in the iconic Pryce Jones building in Newtown, Powys:
28/2/2022 – 8/4/2022 10am to 2pm Monday to Friday for 6 weeks. It’s not too late to enrol on this course!
11/4/2022 – 20/5/202210am to 2pm Monday to Friday for 6 weeks.
23/5/2022 – 1/7/2022 10am to 2pm Monday to Friday for 6 weeks.
4/7/2022 – 29/7/2022 9am to 3pm Monday to Friday for 4 weeks.
The first cohort of learners are already asking about Level 2 as they enjoyed the course so much. They just absolutely loved it! FEL Wales are now in conversations with NPTC colleges to try and run the Level 2 stitching course from the 1st April 2022.
As we progress into the third week of the four month Novel Yarn recycling feasibility study with SMARTCryum the team, in London and Wales, have been undertaking desk top research into fibres, recycling and new technologies. This week Eddie Bebb, Commercial Manager at Fashion-Enter in Wales has been reviewing FIBRETRACE®. Tap to read about his research.
Finally the FEL Wales team are pleased to be working with the hospital and homeware brand Well Cool Clothing. The Fashion Studio in London supported and guided Well Cool founder Kirsty through the design and production process back in 2014. Well Cool PJs are designed to accommodate medical devices, whilst keeping patients covered, comfortable and dignified.
After many requests and two years of research working alongside an experienced Technical Designer, Kirsty has now launched the Well Cool Ladies Range of Accessible Nightwear along with her own branded website. With orders in place Kirsty will be using Fashion-Enter Ltd in Wales to manufacture the garments.
Kirsty comments: “I am absolutely delighted to be working with the team in Wales. The factory is so modern and the team highly experienced, many re-employed from the Laura Ashley factory so I know I am in safe hands. Eddie and Rachel who head the team are there to answer any queries and oversee the production process from start to finish. Couldn’t really ask for more.”
Tap here to visit the Well Cool Clothing website.
FC Designer Workspace in Islington
Over in Islington the workspace is about to gain two new studio residents and the team are preparing for the Modesty Wear Brand launch due to take place on the 23rd March. The 3-hour event will showcase designs by Anaqa Apparel, ENNAY and Shama. The launch will provide an opportunity to meet the designers, hear their stories and watch sewing demonstrations and hijab styling ideas.
To attend please email: jenni@fashion-enter.com
The range of hijabs, modern dresses and kaftans will be available to buy in the FC Designer Collective shop on Fonthill Road from 24th March.
FEL & FTA Haringey
Along with colourful spring collections on the production lines at FEL HQ in Haringey there has been Factory Uncovered educational tours with students from Fashion Retail Academy and Ravensbourne University. Yesterday a group from ASOS.com were in for a CPPD and the feedback from both students and industry has been excellent.
“I have learnt so much about all the steps and the costing behind each sample.”
“Brilliant, helpful speaker. Everyone knows what they are talking about.”
“Very informative. It was fun, I loved the factory workers, super fast and efficient. I was very impressed with the machinists.”
Tap here to find out more about our educational tours and here for more information on our CPPD workshops.
Starting this Saturday…
Perfect for busy individuals that want to gain design and pattern skills in their spare time. This Technical Design & Pattern Cutting CAD course combines 12-weekly Saturday classes, from 12th March, at the FC Designer Workspace with 12-weeks online tutor support.
Ideal for womenswear designers, graduates, start-ups and established brands, this accredited Telestia course will teach you how to design your ideas accurately and technically using a combination of hand and computer design tools. This is a unique method and approach to ensure the perfect fit, size, shape and style.
Tap here to find out more and book your place.
Masterclasses and Courses
Technical Design and Pattern Cutting CAD Course (12 March 12-weekly Saturday classes with online support)
Meet Designer Louisa Parris (17 March – free)
Gerber 3-day course for beginners (6 – 8 April)
Optitex 2D & 3D 3-Day Course (26 – 28 April)
Fabric Swatch of the Week
As an online fabric stockist it may surprise you that we have some ‘Made in the UK’ fabrics! A selection of our printed fabrics are created by the on-site Kornit Digital printer in our Haringey Factory & Innovation Centre! Kornit printers use water based inks and are the most sustainable fabric printers to date! This purple tie-dye jersey is available from the FCFabricStudio at £4.50 per metre.
This Week on FashionCapital.co.uk
Read the full JustStyle Interview by Laura Husband: From pixel to parcel – the “world’s most” sustainable garment micro-factory published on 7th March 2022, following the launch of the Fashtech Innovation Centre
And Finally…
As it’s National Careers Week #NCW2022 don’t forget to regularly check our Jobs page on the FCFTA website. Here you will find a broad range of jobs and apprenticeships within the fashion and textile sector, from Fashion Studio Assistant’s to Garment Technologists. If you are looking to start your fashion career or change jobs then this is a great place to start!
Until next time, have a great week,
From the team at FashionCapital.
(Our thoughts and prayers go out to those in the Ukraine.)
