May the 4th Be With You!

Newsletter 4th May 2022

News from our campuses…

Islington

Repair & Upcycle

Last Friday the FC Designer Workspace held another successful Repair & Upcycle Open Day. Attendees were able to gain repair tips and techniques from the team, use the machines and find out about all the facilities and courses that the Workspace has to offer. Tap here to read more about this event. 

Due to the success of the Open Day the Workspace is now offering a free monthly session (every last Friday of the month) to support the local community by providing an accessible space to learn sewing skills for free. Tap here to join the next session at the end of May.

Happy 10th Birthday Diva Choice 

On Saturday 30th April, Tricia, founder of Diva Choice, celebrated the 10-year anniversary of her brand with a Cupcakes & Cocktails shopping event at our FC Designer Collective shop on Fonthill Road. Guests were treated to a party atmosphere with discounts, goodie bags and a selection of Diva Choice designs from the past 10-years. 

Visit FC Designer Collective, 113-115, Fonthill Road, London N4, nearest tube Finsbury Park from Tuesday to Saturday to shop Diva Choice and many other unique, local designers along with Fashion-Enter’s in-house brands Belles of London and B of London.

Next Week – SilkFred Scouts

Next Tuesday 10th May SilkFred scouts will be at the FC Designer Workspace to advise and scout for new womenswear and accessories brands. If you would like to attend please email your brand bio, look book, website or selection of images including price points to: FCdesignercollective@fashion-enter.com Please note that only brands with a booked slot can be seen.

Haringey

PPE Workwear Repair Training Course

Fashion-Enter & FTA in collaboration with the Textile Services Association held its first ever PPE Workwear Repair Training course on the 26 & 27th April 2022. This two-day course enables PPE/workwear quality teams to develop a stable and upskilled group of repairers. The course went extremely well and feedback included: 

“I will be able to get more involved with the repairs team and I feel I have gained a lot more knowledge and skills.”

“I learnt how to thread, sew, patch and identify repairs. We will now have extra cover when our seamstress is on holiday and will make our repairs more efficient.”

For details on the next course please contact: shyju.skariah@tsa-uk.org 

Mountain Warehouse Apprentice Required

We have an amazing opportunity for a Garment Technologist Apprentice to work at the London Mountain Warehouse office four days a week and attend training with the Fashion Technology Academy one day a week for a 27-month period. The successful candidate will achieve a grade 4 apprentice qualification in Garment Technology and opportunity to gain retail experience. Interviews for this position will take place at the Factory in Haringey on the 13th May. Tap here for all the details and to apply.

And here for all of our current jobs and apprenticeships on offer.

Educational Tours

Visiting the Factory this week we have had two groups from the Fashion Retail Academy, London learning all about starting a brand, design technology and the manufacturing process.

“I learned a lot about the overall process of manufacturing and additional information about 3D design software which I have been wanting to know about. I enjoyed the seminar much more than I expected to. Thanks so much!”

Wales

Heritage Festival

The team are preparing for the Heritage Festival due to take place at the iconic Royal Welsh Warehouse, which is also known as the Pryce Jones building, from 2pm on Saturday, May 14. The team are proud to continue the regions long heritage of garment production, providing quality products, jobs and learning opportunities. 

The celebration will take place on the 251st birthday of Newtown-born philanthropist Robert Owen and the 60th anniversary of Laura and Bernard Ashley relocating their business to Carno. Fashion-Enter Wales will have a stand and also present in-house homeware brand Spyce Jones. This festival is open to all.

Novel Yarn First Shred & Visit

Today Eddie Bebb, Commercial Manager at Fashion-Enter Ltd in Wales is visiting JMP Wilcox the largest, licensed textile reclaimers and processors in the UK as part of the Novel Yarn project. Working with SMARTCryum and Potter Group, the latter has been providing examples of recycled shredded fabric that will be combined with Welsh wool and spun into a yarn. Eddie is gaining insight at JMP Wilcox and will report his findings on FashionCapital later this week. Tap here to view all the research so far.

Save the Date: 8th July Made in Wales – The Fashion Event

Leicester

Apprenticeships

With the assistance of £85,000 from boohoo’s apprenticeship levy, up to 10 individuals from the local area (chosen, selected and placed with apprenticeships by Fashion-Enter) will have the opportunity to undertake either a Level 3 Fashion Studio assistant course or a Level 4 Product Technologist course. Tap here for the apprenticeships available in Leicester.

Workers Rights

During 2022, Fashion-Enter will deliver Workers Rights NCVQ Level 1 training to all employees in 10% of the boohoo group’s Leicester supply chain.

WEA and Women 4 Change Visit the Academy 

It was great to welcome Nusrat and Deborah Walsh  for WEA & Farhiyo Abdi from Women 4 Change to the Academy on Friday 29th April. The skills that we can provide at the Fashion Technology Academy will complement the courses that WEA already provide. We are currently enrolling for Level 1 stitching and would welcome referrals from both WEA and Women4 Change.

Save the Date – 16th June – Leicester Event 

On 16th June the FCFTA Leicester will be holding a Meet and Greet Event at Athena in Leicester’s Cultural Quarter. If you would like to attend this trade and fashion show find more information and register here.

For more from the FCFTA (Leicester) tap here.

Masterclasses and Courses

Ongoing Stitching, Patterns and Tailoring Courses

How to Grow Sales downloadable masterclasses with Carley Johnson

1-Day Telestia Taster (14th May)

Leicester – Manufacturing Meet & Greet event (16th June)

Gerber Accumark 3-day course for Beginners (6th July)

Fabric Swatch of the Week

This week we are feeling floral, well summer is on its way, so we’ve picked out this illustrated floral print crepe to fashion into a top or kimono style cover-up. Available at the FCFabricStudio at £5.90 per metre.

This Week on FashionCapital…

Nick Gould Partner / Solicitor at www.aria-grace.com has been providing us with his legal advice and expertise for over 12-years in this latest article he provides case examples that small companies and start-ups can learn from. Tap here to read.

And Finally…

Our Head of Creative Beth will be running in the London marathon this autumn to raise funds for the British Heart Foundation. Beth isn’t an experienced runner so this is no easy challenge! Support for her efforts would be much appreciated for this amazing foundation, to support Beth tap here.

Until next time, have a great week.

The Team at FashionCapital