Making a Difference…

Newsletter 13th March 2024

Tonight’s the Night!

Wish the Fashion-Enter Ltd team the best of luck tonight as a nominee in the ‘Best Social Enterprise or Charity Initiative’ category at the annual Drapers Sustainable Fashion Conference & Awards. It’s an honour to be recognised by our industry peers. 

The Conference and Awards will take place at Hilton London Bankside tonight, Wednesday 13th March.

Deputy Mayors Visit FEL HQ

This morning, 13th March, the FEL team welcomed the Deputy Mayor for Business, Howard Dawber and Statutory Deputy Mayor, Joanne McCartney, for a tour of FEL’s factory, Styleverse Innovation Centre and United Repair Centre.

FEL Founder Jenny Holloway said: “Thank-you to David for visiting FEL today and seeing how the public sector can effectively create jobs and learning opportunities together. Today we showcased the very best in the latest technologies for fashion today including Style3D, Kornit, Zund and our new collaboration with United Repair Centre. 

“By working in partnership the GLA, Haringey Council and our social enterprise we have managed to achieve a 500% increase in adult skills over the last three years without compromising our quality and completion rates with CCCG. Now is the time to move forward with new skills opportunities such as the Skills Bootcamps and work with sectors that need support such as the North London Mental Health Partnership Trust and the new HOPE-FX program that we have successfully developed. Long may these collaborations continue.”  

Mercury Dasha and Fashion-Enter Ltd Announce Strategic Partnership

In a groundbreaking move set to redefine the fashion industry, Mercury Dasha, a pioneer in AI-driven fashion design, and Fashion-Enter Ltd are thrilled to announce their strategic partnership. This collaboration will usher in a new era of fashion, where artificial intelligence meets bespoke craftsmanship, enabling both brands and consumers to realise their vision of personalised style like never before.

The partnership between Mercury Dasha and Fashion-Enter Ltd is founded on the shared vision of harnessing the power of AI to offer unparalleled customisation and sustainability in fashion. By integrating Mercury Dasha’s cutting-edge AI technology with Fashion Enter Ltd’s agile manufacturing capabilities, the alliance is set to allow customers to create bespoke products perfectly aligned with their unique style preferences. More on this next week!

Launch Success for Fashion & Business Diploma Students 

Last, Friday 8th March, the first cohort on the Level 3 Diploma in Creative Practice, Fashion Design and Business, presented their work at a launch event. Held at the FC Designer Collective shop on Fonthill Road, the learners showcased their creative designs, alongside t-shirts which are also available on the The Creatives page of the Fonthill website: https://fonthillfashion.co.uk/thecreatives/

The FTA runs the Level 3 course in conjunction with Capital City College Group and as with a real working project the aim is to research, create, market and sell a mini collection, seeing the entire process through.

Tap here to watch the short YouTube video from the event.

Lan Leeder, Head of Education at FEL said:“The course has proven highly successful, and the learners have gained invaluable skills, knowledge, and experiences. Some students will continue their studies at university, while others have decided to start their own business. The event was a resounding success, with a great turnout from friends, family, and local shoppers impressed with the stunning outfits on display. The learners’ hard work and dedication were evident in every aspect of the event.”

The course has gone so well that Capital City College Group and FEL are enrolling for the next cohort to start 22nd April. This 1-year course is limited to 20 spaces, tap here to find out more and to apply.

HOPE-FX the Next Chapter

FEL’s 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 / product designs supported by the team. The project has gone so well that the FEL team are now in talks with North London Mental Health Partnership with regards to next steps with this initiative. More on this soon.

FEL to Join ‘Longer in Use and ReUse’ Workshop

Innovate UK’S REforMM programme: Longer in Use and ReUse (LURU) workshop will delve into the challenges and opportunities that manufacturing businesses face. As a part of the agenda six companies will present short pitches on how their businesses are are using or adopting Longer in Use and Reuse. Impressed with FEL’s repair and reuse credentials Innovate UK have invited FEL founder, Jenny Holloway to take part and today the team will be filming in preparation for the event due to take place Tuesday 26^th March.

House of Commons Informal Roundtable

FEL Founder, Jenny Holloway will be joining an informal roundtable at the House of Commons with Labour MP for Hornsey and Wood Green, Catherine West and participating CEO’s. Taking place 17th April, discussion will centre on the UK supply chain and adapting business models as well as government policy.

LEYF Friendship Blanket

Social enterprise, London Early Years Foundation (LEYF) has sustainability at the heart of its organisation and Fashion-Enter Ltd (FEL) is thrilled to continue to support them with ongoing, sustainable textile production. 

To celebrate LEYF’s 120th anniversary, each nursery designed a felt piece of fabric representing their nursery to create a Friendship Blanket to display at LEYF’s head office. Machinists at Fashion-Enter had the pleasure of sewing the square panels together for LEYF and now the Friendship Blanket is ready to be framed!

Please Note: Fashion Studio Price Increase

As of 1st April Fashion Studio prices will be increasing to:

CMT sampling will be £32 per hour

Pattern cutting will be £35 per hour

We do regret that we have to pass on this wage increase but this is why FEL has ethical audits and the client has the peace of mind knowing that garments are being made without any violation to workers rights. We have a leading status in the Fast Forward audit too so come and film your garments being made with us!  We offer a speedy, quality service, all clients receive excellent patterns and beautifully made samples. 

New Evening Classes at FC Designer Workspace

In response to many requests we have added more evening classes to our teaching schedule. Please visit our Eventbrite page to see all the classes available from evenings, Saturday’s, 2-days and longer.

Courses and Workshops Coming Up…

Style3D:

19th – 21st March Style3D for Beginners – Haringey campus

Tailoring:

18th March Beginner’s Tailoring 10 week evening classes – FC Designer Workspace

Repair and Upcycling:

19th March Free Repair and Upcycling Drop In – FC Designer Collective

Stitching:

23rd March Saturday Stitching Club– £30 – FC Designer Workspace

25th & 26th March 2 Day Introduction to Sewing and Upcycling– £99 – FC Designer Workspace

30th March Saturday Stitching Club – £30 – FC Designer Workspace

Pattern Cutting:

23rd March Saturday Pattern Cutting Class– £30 – FC Designer Workspace

25th & 26th March 2 Day Pattern Workshop – £99 – FC Designer Workspace

30th March Saturday Pattern Cutting Class – £30 – FC Designer Workspace

This Week on FashionCapital…

IWD 2024: How Can Businesses Help Women Feel More Supported and Engaged at Work?

And Finally…

Congratulations to Jodie Cartinas who has just passed her Fashion Studio apprenticeship with Jive After Five.

Until next time, have a great week,

From the Team at FashionCapital