Repair is the New Cool
01-11-2023
Newsletter 1st November 2023
Your London United Repair Centre is Officially Open!
The Fashion-Enter Ltd team are absolutely thrilled to be a part of a new repair movement for fashion brands. Today, 1st November, the United Repair Centre London (URC London) has opened at FEL’s HQ in Haringey.
The new centre is the result of a collaboration between social impact companies United Repair Centre and Fashion-Enter, with outdoor clothing brand Patagonia. It will employ and train people who have challenges finding employment, such as those with refugee backgrounds, in high quality clothing repairs. With space for other brands to join Patagonia at the centre, its objective is transforming the apparel industry for the better.
Today, the team has welcomed press and industry to URC London for live demonstrations and panel discussions along with drinks and networking.
Thami Schweichler, CEO and Founder, United Repair Centre, said: “The apparel industry has a bad reputation for the harms inflicted on the environment, and the people who make our clothes – but it doesn’t have to be this way. We must help customers keep their clothes in use for longer and practice conscious consumption in the future, if we are to have a living planet to do business on. And now, with the launch of URC London, we’re making it easy for responsible clothing brands to join the growing repair movement.”
For the FEL team the URC London perfectly aligns with the company’s ethos on sustainability, circularity and providing employment opportunities within the community.
Tap here to read more about the United Repair Centre London.
Hope-FX Supporting Young Adults Through Creativity
Young people who are recovering from mental health conditions are being given the chance to design, create and sell a range of T-shirts as part of a project that engages with their creativity and if they choose, sets them on course for a career in the fashion industry.
Fashion-Enter Ltd is working with North London Mental Health Partnership for the project, called Hope-FX, which gives ten young adults a chance to produce their own unique, t-shirt designs and see it all the way through – from sketches to the high street.
Tap here to read more about this supportive project.
Brilliant Feedback From FEL X Arsenal X Adidas Workshop
At the end of last week the FEL team worked with 25 young adults via an Arsenal X Adidas initiative on a 2-day workshop. The group worked through an educational and practical agenda that included the chance to create their own printed t-shirt. Thanks to support from FEL’s Harry Mac, a former stitching and Central Saint Martins student, and his digital sketch pad the digitised artwork looked amazing and the participants were thrilled with the results.
Gee Fletcher, FEL Development Co-ordinator said: “It was great to see how amazed the students were with the turnout of their T-shirts and how proud the groups were after they had created their first upcycled project whilst learning how to use a machine.”
Tap here to find out more about this 2-day workshop.
Watch a short YouTube video with Harry and FEL CEO Jenny Holloway talking about this project below.
WE CREATE at FCFTA Leicester
FCFTA Leicester is proud to partner with Leicester University creative group “WE CREATE” to provide hands-on pattern workshops every Friday at the Academy.
WE CREATE is a society at the University of Leicester that supports creatives that haven’t fully explored their creative potential or had the opportunity to showcase it. This could be due to lack of motivation, resources, or a supportive community. WE CREATE serves as a catalyst for creatives to connect and collaborate.
The workshops at the FCFTA Leicester are the idea of Rahel Eyong VP of WE CREATE and a previous Leicester Pattern student. The workshops are 2-hours long and are a great way to learn the basics of patterns making in a relaxed and informal environment.
FEL Deputy CEO, Jackie Bertram comments: “It’s fantastic to welcome Rahel and WE CREATE back to the Academy. We do a great job on Level 1 and 2 qualification courses, however not everyone meets the eligibility criteria or has the time to commit to 5 or 12 week courses. If you would like a bespoke workshop please do make contact our talented team would be happy to devise a course that works for your needs.”
To find out more and enquire about courses and facilities at FCFTA Leicester please contact: Divya@fashion-enter.com
Saturday Stitching Club
Stitching tutor Gintare has received fantastic feedback on her Saturday Stitching Club sessions at the FC Designer Workspace on Durham Road. Attendees said that the class was ideal to fit around work/home commitments and many also expressed an interest in evening sessions which the team are looking into.
Most of the Saturday Stitching Club sessions throughout November are fully booked, however we do have limited spaces available for 25th Nov tap the link to book your place.
Free Zoom Business Support Masterclass
Don’t miss out on our next free Zoom masterclass on Unlocking Success: The Secrets Behind Cost – Effective Sampling and Production for Aspiring Brands and Designers on 22nd November. Add to basket to book your free place, a Zoom link will be emailed closer to the date.
Ongoing Courses
Roll-on courses available at all campuses Islington, Haringey and Leicester:
Diploma in Fashion Design and Business
If you are unemployed or low income (below £23,302.50), over 19-years-old, you could be eligible to join some of our courses for free. Email: education@fashion-enter.com to enquire.
Masterclasses and Short Courses
14th November Repair and Upcycle Drop-In Workshop (FC Designer Collective Fonthill Road)
22nd November Unlocking Success: The Secrets Behind Cost – Effective Sampling and Production for Aspiring Brands and Designers (Free via Zoom)
12th December Repair and Upcycle Drop-In Workshop (FC Designer Collective Fonthill Road)
14th December Profitable Pricing: Strategies for Accurate Costing and Pricing in the Fashion Industry (Free via Zoom)
23rd – 25th January Optitex Technology 2D and 3D 3-day course
This Week on FashionCapital…
Frasers Group Buys More Shares and Yet Made in UK is Pushed to the Sidelines
And Finally…
This November we have more exciting projects coming up with Net-a-Porter and YOOX – The Modern Artisan along with an event for TikTok, more on these later. In the meantime if you would like to join the repair and upcycle movement why not join us on Tuesday 14th November at the FC Designer Collective shop for a repair and upcycle drop-in. Just come along with a garment you wish to repair/upcycle to FC Designer Collective, 113-115 Fonthill Road, London N4 between 10am – 5pm.
Until next time, have a great week,
From the Team at FashionCapital
