Working with the GFF & TikTok
15-07-2020
Newsletter 15th July 2020
Dear all,
GFF / TikTok Residency at Fashion-Enter
Fashion-Enter’s Tailoring Academy (unit 4) has been buzzing with selected final year students undergoing the Graduate Fashion Foundation (GFF) and TikTok residency. 70 students in total over the course of two weeks have been taking part in the initiative that aims to educate, mentor and showcase the design talent of tomorrow.
The students selected from GFF member universities across the UK, have been learning all about design for manufacturing, grading, commercial patterns, production lines and quality control from Fashion-Enter’s Production Director Caroline Ash and her team. The students have also been mentored by leading industry designers, GFF patrons and TikTok Creators.
Fashion-Enter Production Director, Caroline Ash comments: “We thoroughly enjoyed last week with the graduates and are mid-way with the second group now. We worked with them on their designs, helping them to speed up the process, teaching them new techniques and working with them on tricky aspects of their designs. Everyone was really pleased and proud of the end results.”
Lucy Moore, a fashion design graduate from Leeds Arts University, told the GFF: “It’s been a really good week, I think we’ve all learnt so many things, from how to use different machines to simple tips and tricks that the seamstresses have learnt on the job for many years that you don’t pick up at uni. I want my own business eventually so this has given me an indication about how much work goes into each garment.”
Fashion Designer Henry Holland told the Evening Standard that the residency offers “a really useful set of tools that so many students often are lacking”.
Tap here to read more about this project.
The residency will conclude this Friday more on this next week.
Learn About Fashion Inside Out
As Henry Holland mentioned core skills and understanding in fashion production are often lacking with today’s fashion graduates and that’s what we offer right here at the Fashion Technology Academy. Within weeks learners can gain essential knowledge in patterns, stitching and niche manufacturing areas such as quality control and machine engineering. Tap here to find out about our courses.
We have places available on our Level 1 & 2 Stitching and Patterns courses, these provide excellent understanding of the fashion construction process and can lead into many areas of industry. To find out more please contact esme@fashion-enter.com
Talking Fashion Factory Ethics
After the media frenzy surrounding Boohoo and unethical factory practices taking place in Leicester our CEO Jenny Holloway has been asked to comment in various articles / interviews. Her response was not to finger point or blame but to try and work together she said: “retailers and factories need to work as one; when the buyer realises the skills of the factory and they are respected; when there is set on-going production so the factory can plan ahead, offer decent wages for a stable workforce and not operate in a climate of fear.”
Click here to read The Industry’s article: ‘Leicester and the Boohoo bombshell: what can UK manufacturing do to move forward?’
Jenny was also interviewed today (15th July) by Kaye Adams for BBC Radio Scotland where she discussed the term ‘fast fashion’ and how the press tend to highlight the rogue’s of the manufacturing industry while there are many ethical and compliant UK factories. Jenny also talked about the need for a kite mark of excellence so that consumers can instantly see if a product is made via an ethical supply chain – as used by the food industry.
To listen again visit BBC iPlayer Sounds, go to Radio Scotland 15th July the Kaye Adams Mornings show and listen at 2 hours 28mins into the programme.
Jenny comments: “We have never been busier in the Factory and it’s great to see continual flow with medical gowns from Private White and orders from ASOS.com. Demand for British made garments, ethically made of course (!) is definitely at an all time peak. This is why we now have free courses available for stitching so we can train the next generation!”
Contact esme@fashion-enter.com regarding the free stitching courses available for a limited time.
Congrats to Tailoring Apprentices
A big congratulations to Level 5 Bespoke Tailoring apprentices Oliver and Mike. Both have been completing their apprenticeships at Gieves & Hawkes on Savile Row and with us at the FTA. The pair have now completed their apprenticeships and can now offer an amazing skillset to an industry in desperate need of well-trained staff. Good luck guy’s and we hope to hear about your next career move in the near future.
Optitex Fabric Testing Unit
Optitex has developed groundbreaking software solutions that include 2D design and 3D visualization platforms that cover the entire supply chain. Alongside computer software Fashion-Enter has now invested in an Optitex Fabric Testing Unit (FTU).
The FTU determines physical fabric properties, an important part of the Optitex solution, and critical for achieving proper and realistic garment simulation in Optitex 3D. The Optitex FTU provides a series of devices and corresponding methods for automatic and accurate measurement of fabric weight, thickness, stretch, shear, bend and friction. The measurement methods are powered by industry standards, providing the industry with the highest level of measurement precision and reliability.
Fashion-Enter CEO Jenny Holloway comments: “This is an exciting time to be in production but it’s not for the faint hearted and retailers and manufacturers really do need to be joined at the hip! After in-house training we are now able to offer Optitex classes and with the addition of the Fabric Testing Unit we will be able to achieve precise garment simulation that will result in a lean and efficient supply chain for our garment factory.”
Fashion-Enter Staff News – Katarina & Jenni
We are absolutely delighted that Katarina (pictured above) our amazing supervisor is back on fighting form. My, we have missed you! Take it easy and don’t do too much – the team is so happy you’re back.
We also welcome back Jenni Sutton (pictured above) our Development Director, from the 20th July!
Jenny Holloway comments: “As a founder of Fashion-Enter it’s great to have Jenni back at the helm again. After a mad, life-changing year of marriage, new house and her beautiful son Jaxon she’s back! Can’t wait and just in time for the new program with Islington Council and our retail shop on Fonthill Road!”
FC Designer Collective Opening Very Soon
We are thrilled to be opening our retail concept store ‘FC Designer Collective’ at the beginning of August. More than a sales showroom the store will act as a creative hub for the area and will include production facilities for repairs and bespoke projects. If you are based in North London and would like to get involved with this exciting project please contact jenni@fashion-enter.com
Masks Become Mandatory
With the latest news that masks are now to become mandatory in shops as well as on public transport the demand for face masks has shot up. We have been producing them here at Fashion-Enter for sometime for private clients as well as those wanting to buy them for personal use. Please check out our range of children’s and adult’s masks in a selection of colours and prints. Tap here to view the face mask selection.
Courses & Masterclasses
Stitching Academy Level 1 & 2 courses are on a rolling programme with free places currently available to find out more tap here.
Pattern courses Level 1 & 2 are also on a rolling programme place are available for next month.
The Tailoring Academy will be re-opening at the end of July 2020.
Optitex 2D & 3D – 1-day Introductory Course – 22nd July.
Gerber AccuMark 3-day Course for Beginners – 29th / 30th / 31st July.
Fabric Swatch of the Week
This week we’ve gone for this black and white spotty scuba, this is a fantastic fabric to work with as it stretches all ways, drapes well and you don’t need to add a lining. Available from the FCFabricStudio at £4.50 a metre.
This Week on FashionCapital…
Read all about the PCIAW® and Gerber Technology webinar on Manufacturing in the UK Challenges and Advantages.
Looking for gift ideas for a fashion-loving friend? We offer a few ideas.
Plus we get behind the #2020vision initiative to support independent fashion businesses through the COVID-19 crisis.
And Finally…
A little something from Belles this week’s best seller the cute Lottie smock dress in lilac – perfect summer dressing and made right here in our north London factory.
