Sustainable Champions!

Newsletter 20th March 2024

Drapers Sustainable Award Winner!

Last week we were on the cusp of attending the annual Drapers Sustainable Fashion Awards and what a night it was! We didn’t pick up the award for ‘Best Social Enterprise or Charity Initiative’, however it was brilliant to be acknowledged and make the shortlist. But that wasn’t all, the very last award of the night to celebrate a special ‘Sustainable Fashion Champion’, sponsored by ISKO, went to our very own Founder and Chair, Jenny Holloway!

Jenny commented: “As I said on stage I am nothing without the team we have. Particular acknowledgment to the Directors sitting on table 14 last night; many have been on theFashion-Enter / FashionCapital journey for over ten years! 

“We have had our ups and downs in business but we have shown what pivoting really means! 

“To the rest of the team in Haringey, Islington, Leicester and Powys – you are awesome! No person is an island and I accepted the award on behalf of us all. Thank-you to all that voted too.”

Tap here to visit Jenny’s Linked In page and her personal thank-you message.

Accompanying the prestigious award is a Drapers feature by Rebecca Thomson, titled: ‘Enter Drapers Sustainable Fashion Champion: Jenny Holloway – UK manufacturer extraordinaire’. Rebecca talks to Jenny about her tenacity, vision and drive in what has been a challenging environment.

Tap here to read the full Drapers article.

Social Investment from Postcode Innovation Trust

The Drapers Sustainable Fashion Award highlights FEL’s ongoing initiatives, partnerships and drive to adapt and change for good. The FEL team has now secured £250,000 from the Postcode Innovation Trust to create a progressive Circular Fashion Factory.

The £250,000 (50% Grant / 50% Loan) Postcode Innovation Trust funding will create a Centre of Excellence in Circular Fashion. This will include repurposing FEL’s garment factory to a fully equipped repair, recycle and reprocessing unit.

The investment will also allow FEL to support new sustainable fashion businesses to grow through the provision of training, mentoring and support to adapt to a circular fashion model. 

Jenny said: “The industry is in a unique period now to really review what can be sustainably achieved. Let’s not waste this golden opportunity – let’s move forward as one!”

Tap here to view a short YouTube video about this important investment

Mercury Dasha and FEL Form Forward-Thinking Partnership

FEL’s new partnership with Mercury Dasha is founded on the shared vision of harnessing the power of AI to offer unparalleled customisation and sustainability in fashion. By integrating Mercury Dasha’s cutting-edge AI technology with Fashion Enter Ltd’s agile manufacturing capabilities, the alliance is set to allow customers to create bespoke products perfectly aligned with their unique style preferences.

Jenny comments: “This is a great initiative by Mercury Dasha and this is the first project that we are engaging in that uses our waste fabrics. 

“We have supplied a list of current fabrics and now we’re ready to design and create one-off garments direct to customers. 

“This is sustainable fashion and we are eager to get going with this unique partnership.”

FEL to Join ‘Longer in Use and ReUse’ Workshop

Innovate UK’S REforMM programme: Longer in Use and ReUse (LURU) workshop will delve into the challenges and opportunities that manufacturing businesses face. As a part of the agenda six companies will present short pitches on how their businesses are are using or adopting Longer in Use and Reuse. 

Impressed with FEL’s repair and reuse credentials Innovate UK have invited FEL founder, Jenny Holloway to take part, and the team have prepared a film in preparation for the event due to take place Tuesday 26^th March. 

Tap here to view the short YouTube video explaining our repair initiatives.

A FEL First – Non-Fashion Order

The manufacturing arm of Fashion-Enter Ltd (FEL), the Factory, is delighted to confirm a first, major non-fashion order with the inspiring and ethical company, Kids Planet.

Approximately three months ago FEL was introduced to Kids Planet via June O’Sullivan the CEO of LEYF, as Kids Planet were on a sustainability review.

Kids Planet is a family-owned, award-winning group of 189 nurseries across the UK, responsible for the care and education of over 25,000 children and that is fully committed to ensuring each child is given the best start.

Fashion-Enter Ltd will be producing an initial trial of 1000 bedsheets, this will be for their nurseries around the UK. This is a fantastic opportunity for Fashion-Enter Ltd to work on non-fashion items for a company that has a similar ethos in community and sustainability.

Thank-you to the team at Kids Planet for this first order. 

Islington Residents Get Upcycling With Us

Thanks to support from Islington Council the FEL team offer a free, monthly drop-in, upcycling session at the FC Designer Collective shop on Fonthill Road. This initiative aims to engage the community and to pass on knowledge and skills to enable individuals to repair and upcycle existing garments and textiles.

The March drop-in took place yesterday, 19th March, and we received some fantastic feedback from attendees, including this from Krishma: “I just wanted to thank-you to your team for putting on an amazing day. I attended the event in London today. Maria’s energy was brilliant and Layla is a credit to your organisation, the wealth of experience and knowledge she parted today, has given me the skills and confidence that I previously lacked. I now know how to hem my trousers from cutting, over locking, stitching on a machine and hand stitching.”

The next drop-in repair and upcycling workshop will take place Monday 15th April.

Evening Classes at FC Designer Workspace

In response to many requests we have added more evening classes to our teaching schedule. Please visit our Eventbrite page to see all the classes available from evenings, Saturday’s, 2-days and more.

Courses and Workshops Coming Up…

Style3D:

15th April 3-Day Style3D Course for Beginners – £199 – Haringey campus

Repair and Upcycling:

15 April: Free Repair and Upcycling Drop In – FC Designer Collective shop

Stitching:

23rd March Saturday Stitching Club– £30 – FC Designer Workspace

25th & 26th March 2 Day Introduction to Sewing and Upcycling– £99 – FC Designer Workspace

30th March Saturday Stitching Club – £30 – FC Designer Workspace

Pattern Cutting:

23rd March Saturday Pattern Cutting Class– £30 – FC Designer Workspace

30th March Saturday Pattern Cutting Class – £30 – FC Designer Workspace

This Week on FashionCapital…

FEL Founder Named as Drapers Sustainable Fashion Champion

And Finally…

Read all about it…FEL’s founder discusses ‘Why Digital Product Creation Could Hold The Keys To Unlocking Domestic Production’ in this informative feature now published on the interline.com

Until next time, have a great week,

From the Team at FashionCapital