Shortlisted Finalist!

Newsletter 17th January 2024

Drapers Sustainable Fashion Awards Finalist!

Have you heard? Fashion-Enter Ltd has made the final shortlist for ‘Best Social Enterprise or Charity Initiative’ at the annual Drapers Sustainable Fashion Awards. Big congratulations to the FEL team – it’s quite an achievement to get this far!

The winner will be announced at the Drapers Sustainable Fashion Conference and Awards at the Hilton London Bankside on 13th March 2024! Fingers and toes crossed!

Repurpose and Recomme

On the topic of awards, congratulations to menswear brand Oliver Spencer on achieving The Best Circular Approach award at the recent 2024 Wallpaper* Awards.

Last year, Oliver Spencer added to his ethical credentials with the launch of a Repurpose clothing initiative that allows the customer to bring back an Oliver Spencer item that has reached the end of its wearable life, either in-store or via an online process. 

Once received, the item is repurposed – powered by Recomme, down one of the brands bespoke routes. As a token of appreciation for participating the customer will be sent a voucher to put towards another Oliver Spencer product as a way of saying thank-you for making a responsible choice.

Recomme provides repair, resale and end of life solutions for the garment industry and currently, Fashion-Enter Ltd is instrumental in providing processing services, including those on Oliver Spencer items.

Introducing Style3D

If you are interested in learning about what Style3D software can do then sign-up to our free introductory session via Zoom. Taking place tomorrow morning (Thursday 18th January), Harry will demonstrate Style3D Studio in action and show how quick and easy this amazing software is. 

Tap the link to join: Unlocking the Power of Style3D in Fashion and Design and a Zoom link will be emailed to you.

Courses and Workshops Coming Up

Style3D:

22nd – 24th January Style3D for Beginners – £199 – Haringey campus

29th – 31st January Style3D for Beginners – £199 – Haringey campus

Optitex:

23rd – 25th January Optitex Technology 2D and 3D 3-day course (Plus 1-month free trial licence £599 – Haringey campus)

Stitching:

20th January Saturday Stitching Club – Introduction to Sewing – £25 – Islington campus Durham Road (FULL)

27th January Saturday Stitching Club – Creating a Skirt – £25 – Islington campus Durham Road (FULL)

Pattern Cutting:

20th January Saturday Pattern Cutting Classes – Week 1 Made to Measure Skirt – £25 – Islington campus Durham Road

27th January Saturday Pattern Cutting Classes – Week 2 Bodice and Sleeves – £25 – Islington campus Durham Road

Half Term 4-Day Courses:

12th February 4 Day Beginners Stitching course

12th February 4 Day Beginners Pattern Cutting course

Plastic-Free Sportswear from Community Clothing

In 2016, Patrick Grant (best known for his role as a judge on The Great British Sewing Bee), ran a crowdfunding campaign to support UK manufacturers and launch a true Made in the UK brand – Community Clothing. Fast forward to 2023 and Community Clothing is made up of 45 partner factories, including Fashion-Enter Ltd, employing almost two thousand staff.

The latest range to be launched from the brand is Community Clothing Organic Athletic, a pioneering and innovative range of athletic clothing, made exclusively using plant-based textile technology, representing radically different thinking in the world of sportswear. 

Moving away from non-biodegradable, oil-based, synthetic plastic materials that dominate the sportswear market, the range is 100% plastic free and has been printed and stitched in FEL’s Haringey factory.

Tap here to view Community Clothing Organic Athletic

Looking for Sampling?

The Fashion Studio team are super talented and are already creating press samples and one-off pieces for the catwalk as we head into show season. If you are looking for first patterns, toiling, seals, grades and short run production, the Fashion Studio can make anything from dramatic gowns to delicate lingerie. Whether you are a designer, brand, or final year student we can help!

Hear what Fashion Studio client 29 Atelier has to say in this short YouTube video… 

Contact: thefashionstudio@fashion-enter.com

Managing Behaviour for Learning CPD 

Yesterday FEL staff members attended a CPD on ‘Managing Behaviour for Learning’, Lan Leeder, Head of Education commented: 

“I have worked at FEL for over 8-years and during this time we have achieved a 500% increase in budget for our delivery of technical skills. To me, I understand the importance of continuing to develop the staff, and this CPD on Managing Behaviour for Learning has been excellent.

“The session aims to ‘foster a safe learning environment with positive behaviour and learning by all students.”

All educational team members attended the CPD and the feedback has been really positive.

January’s Repair and Upcycle Session

Yesterday, 16th January, FEL held its monthly Repair and Upcycle drop-in event, supported by Islington Council, for local residents at the FC Designer Collective shop. This was our busiest session to date with attendees working on customising, re-hemming, tailoring to the body and more. It was brilliant to see the general public get stuck in and gain some tips on sewing and making the most of their existing garments.

The next drop-in Repair and Upcycle session at the FC Designer Collective, 113-115 Fonthill Road will take place on Tuesday 13th February, tap here to book your free place. 

This Week on FashionCapital…

Kicking Off 2024 – Hope-FX Photoshoot

And Finally…

“I enjoyed the tour and seeing the organisation in action. The presenter has so much knowledge on the topic of fashion.”

“I appreciated the amount of information the speaker gave when asked a question.”

“I never knew a program like Style3D existed and I’m excited to learn more about it.”

Some of the brilliant feedback we’ve been getting from our Factory Uncovered Seminar and Tour. Last week we had two groups in all the way from the USA, these sessions really do provide a behind-the-scenes view of the fashion manufacturing industry. Tap here to find out more!

Until next time, have a great week,

From the Team at FashionCapital