Sew After Work & Source Smarter
28-01-2026
Newsletter 28th January 2026
New: Drop-In Sewing Sessions with John Herrera
You said it, we listened. Course participants at the FC Designer Workspace asked for flexible, after-work sessions where they could drop in with their own projects, get expert advice, and use professional equipment so we have created a series of Drop-in Sewing Sessions.
These relaxed evening sessions (5:30–8pm) are led by fashion designer and educator John Herrera, giving you the chance to make real progress on your work with guidance from someone who truly knows the industry. You’ll have access to our spacious cutting tables, industrial sewing machines, mannequins and irons plus John’s one-to-one advice when you need it most.
Recent student feedback says it all: “Extremely pleased with the course… very knowledgeable, kind and patient,” and “John is an excellent teacher — I learnt a great deal and look forward to joining further classes.”
Drop in dates and prices:
- Friday 27th February: 5.30pm-8pm, £20
- Thursday 5th March: 5.30pm-8pm, £20
- Friday 13th March: 5.30pm-8pm, £20
- Thursday 19th March: 5.30pm-8pm, £20
Visit the FashionCapital eventbrite page to find out more and secure your place.
Do You Want to Exhibit at Leicester Made and Regions?
Leicester Made & Regions 2026 is your opportunity to put your business at the heart of UK fashion and textile manufacturing. Organised by Fashion-Enter Ltd and the Apparel and Textile Manufacturers Federation, the event will unite manufacturers, suppliers, innovators and industry leaders from across the country to strengthen UK supply chains, spotlight regional expertise and drive the transition towards sustainable, onshore and tech-enabled production. Building on the phenomenal success of Leicester Made 2025, this expanded edition is set to be a powerful platform for exhibitors looking to connect, collaborate and shape the future of British manufacturing.
Day 1 Industry Friday 24th April is dedicated exclusively to industry, providing opportunities to source new partners, explore innovation and connect with leaders in manufacturing, sustainability and policy.
Day 2 Consumer Saturday 25th April opens to consumers, spotlighting British-made products, local brands and repair and reuse initiatives.
Tap the links to register your attendance.
For those interested in exhibiting / sponsorship please contact: beth@fashion-enter.com
Do You Know Your Terry Towelling From Your Taffeta?
Learn all about fabric with our free, online masterclass with Niall Maplesden, Director of The Knowledge Nexus, tomorrow, Thursday 29th January, at 10am.
Compiled for designers, emerging brands and sourcing teams, Understanding Fabric from Fibre to Finish is a 1-hour masterclass that explores how fibre choice, spinning, fabric construction, dyeing and finishing impact fabric performance, quality and sustainability. Drawing on decades of industry experience, Niall will also share insights into new innovations and evolving legislation shaping the future of textiles.
Understanding Fabric from Fibre to Finish Thursday 29th January 10 – 11am via Zoom, register for your free place and a link will be emailed to you.
Made in the UK: Orla Kiely Dresses
Designer Orla Kiely has long championed UK manufacturing, producing garments, accessories and homeware with a strong emphasis on local skills and short supply chains. Her signature printed dresses have frequently been made in England, and recently this has included FashionCapital’s sister company – Fashion-Enter Ltd, London – an award-winning factory known not only for technical excellence, but also for training, fair employment and ethical production. The Orla dresses look stunning and the team are very proud to be a part of the Orla Kiely brand.
To find out more tap here and to enquire about UK production with Fashion-Enter Ltd please contact: thefactory@fashion-enter.com
Fashion Hub Leicester…
Currently Recruiting
New employment positions have been added to the Leicester Made website including: Full-time Sewing Machinist and Trainee Linkers – to find out more visit Leicester Made for the full job descriptions and contact details of who / where to apply.
In-Person Masterclass with Caroline Trend
On 22nd January, the Leicester Fashion Hub hosted an essential industry masterclass to support emerging designers as they prepare to take their first steps into production. Titled How to Get Factory Ready Before You Spend a Penny, the 1-hour, in-person session was led by industry expert Caroline Trend.
Attendee feedback included: “10 out of 10 – very informative. I feel better equipped to work with factories. Great speaker, knowledgable and helpful.”
“I have gotten to know about the end to end process of design to factory production. It has been useful to know what steps to take before starting a proper fashion company.”
In-House Fabric Sale
On 27th January, Leicester’s Fashion Hub held an in-house fabric and garment sale, open to all. The sale attracted current and previous learners, local students and their friends, looking for discounted materials for their sewing and upcycling projects.
The next sale will be announced in due course.
Courses Workshops and Masterclasses
Roll-on courses:
Available at all campuses Islington, Haringey and Leicester.
Diploma in Fashion Design and Business
Fashion Design:
6th February (X4 Friday’s) – Fashion Design for Beginners – FC Designer Workspace – £180 + eventbrite fee
Pattern Cutting:
31st January – Creative Pattern Cutting: Collars and Sleeves – FC Designer Workspace – £45 + eventbrite fee
Corset Making:
7th March – Saturday Introduction to Corset Making – FC Designer Workspace – £45 + eventbrite fee
Fashion Illustration:
14th February – 1-Day Fashion Illustration for Beginners Saturday Class – FC Designer Workspace – £45 + eventbrite fee
Repair & Upcycling:
10th February – Free Repair and Upcycling Drop-In – FC Designer Collective shop – free
Free Business Masterclass Online:
29th January – Understanding Fabric from Fibre to Finish – Free Online Masterclass 10am – 11am (register your place and a Zoom link will be emailed closer to the date)
For all course enquiries contact: education@fashion-enter.com or call 0208 809 3311
This Week on FashionCapital…
Fashion Isn’t Sustainable…But It Could Come Close
And Finally…Factory Floor Learning
Fashion-Enter Ltd recently welcomed Buying students from London’s Fashion Retail Academy for an insightful seminar and tour of its ethical, award-winning factory. Led by Caroline Ash, the visit gave students a behind-the-scenes look at garment production, supply chain technology and key industry topics, directly supporting their current course projects.
Student feedback was overwhelmingly positive, with many praising the practical insight and real-world relevance of the session — from understanding manufacturing processes and AI’s impact on production, to learning essential industry terminology, challenges and solutions.
If you are interested in learning from FEL’s factory floor, tap here to find out more.
Until next time, have a great week.
From the Team at FashionCapital / Fashion-Enter Ltd
