Re – Skilling the U.K.
27-10-2021
Newsletter 27th October 2021
FC FTA Leicester Opens its Doors
The Fashion-Enter Ltd team are thrilled that the FC Fashion Technology Academy (FTA) Leicester, in collaboration with Leicester City Council and local clothing company Ethically Sourced Products Ltd, has opened its doors for a Residents Open Day today (27th October). Attendees were invited to take a tour of the space, learn about the apprenticeships and training that we can offer as well as ‘have a go’ on the machines. The fully-equipped textiles skills centre will provide much-needed training to ensure the on-going growth of ‘Made in the UK’ within one of the UK’s biggest manufacturing regions.
The Open Day is the first in a series of key dates at the FC FTA Leicester leading up to the VIP launch in the New Year.
Check back on FashionCapital and the weekly newsletter for further announcements on the new FTA Leicester and its accompanying events.
Design Season at LCB Depot
Last night (26th October) Fashion-Enter’s Production Director Caroline Ash and CEO Jenny Holloway openly discussed the new FC Fashion Technology Academy Leicester at LCB Depot – Leicester’s creative hub. LCB have been hosting a 2-week Design Season with a series of events, exhibitions and talks. Caroline explained what the FTA would provide and how we are keen to support and provide learning opportunities for Leicester’s fashion and textiles sector.
Thank-you to LCB Depot – such an amazing venue for Leicester’s creatives.
Welcome Zarina
We are pleased to welcome Zarina to the FC FTA Leicester team. Zarina comments:
“I have worked with stitching skills for the last 16-years and I am so pleased to be joining Fashion-Enter in Leicester because they really care about the future of our industry – as I do. I look forward to joining on the 15th November.”
E-mail fcftaleicester@fashion-enter.com for further information on this Academy.
Skills Shortage – The Sunday Times Comment
Ever since Fashion-Enter Ltd opened the Stitching Academy in collaboration with ASOS back in 2013 it has been clear, both in-house and within the UK fashion manufacturing sector, that skilled machinists and garment workers are in short supply. In The Sunday Times last weekend Fashion-Enter Ltd’s CEO commented on behalf of the many industry sectors struggling to find skilled employees and how the government desperately needs to engage and back training for young people to pursue vocational careers. Tap here for the full story.
Open Enrolment Day for Stitching & Pattern Courses
Tomorrow, Thursday 28th October, from 1pm – 5pm Fashion-Enter is holding an open day for enrolments on our Level 1 and 2 stitching and pattern courses.
These courses are free if:
- you are unemployed or on a low wage (below £21,157.50) and
- this is your first Fashion and Textiles qualification in Stitching or Pattern Cutting at level 1 or 2
Please note you will need to be in receipt of one of the following:
- Universal Credit,
- JSA,
- ESA,
- Income Support.
If not in receipt of any of the above and you are employed, your earnings will need to be below £21,157.50 annual gross income in order to qualify.
Come and ‘have a go’ and get help with enrolment this Thursday at:
FC Designer Workspace,
9 Durham Road, Islington, London,
N7 7FB
Tel:0203 026 0399
Learn how to be a designer, make your own clothes, or simply upskill to have a new job!
We are here to help you succeed.
Please confirm your attendance by responding to jenni@fashion-enter.com
Fashion-Enter CEO Joins Invennt Luxe Ascot Event
Last Saturday, Fashion-Enter CEO Jenny Holloway attended a race meeting for fashion and luxury goods executives at Ascot Racecourse. The event was hosted by specialist tax consultants Invennt Luxe and was an enjoyable way to celebrate Fashion-Enter’s recently successful R&D tax credit claim in the pageantry and spectacle of the world’s preeminent racecourse. The event’s organisers, Invennt Luxe, help fashion and luxury goods brands claim R&D tax credits for investment in innovative product development and work undertaken to overcome technical challenges arising during production, distribution, retail and supporting business activities.
Fashion-Enter recently commissioned Invennt Luxe to identify qualifying costs and compile a claim for the last two accounting periods. The business received a percentage of turnover from HMRC, supporting further investment in-studio resources and manufacturing capacity for ethical garment manufacturing. The scheme is open to all designers, manufacturers and retailers registered as limited companies in the UK. Commenting on the claims process undertaken by Invennt Luxe, Jenny Holloway remarked, “Maggie made the process effortlessly simple and illuminated innovation we didn’t know existed. The exercise has energised our team and made us rethink the way we view our business.”
If you would like to find out more about the R&D tax credit programme and find out whether you are eligible to claim, visit www.invenntluxe.com or contact Aidan Baun; aidan@invenntluxe.com, +44 7940 442936.
Carley Johnson Zoom Masterclass Tomorrow
The How to Produce a High Selling Product online masterclass with fashion wholesale and brand launch expert Carley Johnson takes place online tomorrow – Thursday 28th October. If you want to learn about the 5 fundamental steps to ensure that you produce top selling products that in essence will sell themselves, then join this 2-hour Zoom session.
Special Offer on Expert Advice
We can also offer Carley’s remaining 2 live sessions ‘How to Produce a High Selling Product’ and ‘How to Wholesale’ and recordings of her first two sessions ‘How to Build Your Omnichannel Strategy’ and ‘How to Launch a Successful Fashion Business,’ for just £20 + VAT. Tap here to take up this offer.
This Friday: Free Repair & Upcycle Workshop
This Friday 29th October we will be joining the ‘Islington Together: Let’s talk about a greener future’ festival (18 – 29 October 2021) with the offer of a free repair and up-cycle workshop. This interactive session will take place from 10am, attendees will be invited to tour the workspace and hear about all the facilities on offer as well as take part in the practical workshop that will teach alteration and upcycling techniques on clothing items from home. If you are a London Borough of Islington resident and would like to join this free workshop tap here to book your place.
All of our affordable studios are currently rented out however we can offer hotdesking and the use of the machines please contact jenni@fashion-enter.com with regards to this service.
FC Designer Collective Islington – Save The Dates!
This December we have 2 events on the agenda:
4th December – Fonthill Road Christmas Market
18th December – Diva Choice returns for another Cupcake & Cocktails pre-Christmas in-store event.
FC Designer Workspace Resident Launches Online Brand
New online luxury children’s clothing and lifestyle brand Mi-bambino London has launched today, 27th October 2021. Founded by Lauren Morrison the Mi-bambino’s brand ethos is to “keep its finger on the pulse of children’s luxury fashion, designing the best styles for children to wear.”
Using sustainable, ethical, luxurious, natural-based fibres the brand is initially catering for children aged 0 -3 months. Lauren Morrison, formally educated at LCF and Regents University London, always saw the opportunities within childrenswear from 2012, when she began to build the foundations of Mi-bambino London. Lauren has supported Mini Mode London Kids Fashion Week with founder Amanda Rabor, provided brand consulting for various children’s brands and creating fashion trends for Junior Style London – Tangereene magazine.
Now based in Islington, Mi- bambino London is supported by FashionCapital to harness new local fashion entrepreneurs living within the Islington borough. The Mayor of London, Islington Council, LEAP and FashionCapital collaborated to repurpose disused garages into affordable fashion offices called FC Designer Collective Workspace connected to FC Designer Collective Shop on Fonthill Road.
Mi-bambino London is based at Studio 6, The FC Designer Workspace at 9 Durham Road, London N7 7DT.
Tap the link to visit the Mi-bambino website.
FC Designer Collective News
Our shop, the FC Designer Collective on Fonthill Road, London N4, has recently undergone a revamp and has a new look with clearly defined sections for each designer collection. The shop is stocked with local, independent design talent as well as fabrics, haberdashery and an on-site alterations and bespoke service.
FC Designer Collective, 113-115, Fonthill Road, London N4 3HH.
Shop opening days / hours: Tuesday – Saturday 10:00 – 17:00
Masterclasses and Courses
On-going short courses in Stitching and Pattern Cutting available – to find out more visit our FCFTA website or contact education@fashion-enter.com
How to Produce a High Selling Product (Online)
Islington Together: Let’s talk about a greener future: Repair & Upcycle Workshop (Free – FC Designer Workspace)
Optitex 2D & 3D – 3 Day Course (FTA)
Gerber Accumark 3-Day Course for Beginners (FTA)
Discover 4 Key Strategies to Make You More Positive & Motivated (Free – FC Designer Workspace)
How to Wholesale (Online)
Fabric Swatch of the Week
Just a few more days until Halloween, are you outfit ready? How about some black mesh to add volume or perhaps a create a corpse bride veil! Available from the FCFabric Studio at just £3.25 a metre.
This Week on FashionCapital…
Brands and retailers have been quick to respond to the rise of the new staycation genre, we explore this multitasking staycation style in this latest article.
And Finally…
We continue our series of inspiring #BlackHistoryMonth interviews and chat to Lauren Morrison, trend forecaster and founder of the luxury childrenswear brand @Mi-bambino London. Hear all about her fashion journey and why she believes it is so important to show diversification amongst black fashion designers within the UK, visit our social media pages on Facebook, Twitter & Instagram.
#blackhistory #BlacklivesMatter #blm #ProudtoBE
Until next time, have a great week.
