<< back to Newsletters

Your Sustainable, On Demand Micro Factory Has Arrived!

02-03-2022   


Newsletter 2nd March 2022

Tomorrow’s a Big Day for FashTech Innovation

From tomorrow, 3rd & 4th March, in collaboration with Kornit Digital we will be introducing a new UK FashTech Innovation Centre which aims to support ‘Made in the UK’ for the fashion and textiles sector. The centre includes both Kornit Presto direct-to-fabric and Kornit Atlas Max direct-to-garment systems, along with other technologies to enable cut-and-sew operations for on-demand, sustainable fashion.

Invited guests and businesses will be able to see this fashion-forward, micro-factory in operation. Fashion-Enter Ltd CEO Jenny Holloway comments: 

“The collaboration with Kornit Digital was absolutely the right move for Fashion-Enter. Tomorrow we will open the doors to the Innovation Centre and welcome industry VIP’s and media across a spectacular two-day event. Guests will experience end-to-end production in action with live demos of the Kornit printers aligned with traditional garment manufacturing. I truly believe this is the future of the fashion and garment making industry.” 

The Latest From FCFTA Leicester

FCFTA (Leicester) Manager Jackie Bertram informs us with the latest:

Level 1 Stitching is really gaining momentum in Leicester, the first course started in November when the FCFTA campus launched.  

This course covers 3 units;

The first group  of 11 learners successfully completed their course in January, 9 students then joined in January and all will be completed within 2 weeks.  

We are currently enrolling our March students and the uptake is going from strength to strength with 14 initial enquiries to enrol already.

We are happy to talk to anyone that may be interested in joining this course. education@fashion-enter.com Tel: 0116 436 2560

SEG – Level 1 Workers’ Rights 19 learners have this week completed the Level 1 Award on workers’ rights. This is being delivered direct in Leicester factories with garment workers.The first workers to complete this course were those at Onyx Fashions.

A further two more factories will start the course this month – great to deliver training that directly improves the workers’ rights and knowledge.

Thank-you Onyx for being the first to complete.

CRF Compliance Great to kick start the compliance guidance as part of the Community Renewal Fund Programme. FCFTA last week delivered compliance guidance to 2 companies in Leicester and will continue to do this throughout March and April. This is a thorough review to highlight areas of opportunity to address prior to a SMETA or Fast Forward audit.

Cross Patch were extremely impressed with TJ and his support was extremely well received.

Capacity Register Also a part of the Community Renewal Fund FCFTA is currently in the design stage of a capacity register to support and showcase local manufacturers. This will allow us to showcase the capabilities and capacity of manufacturers and support new growth opportunities.

The Latest from Fashion-Enter Wales

Novel Yarn SMARTCryum Research The team has been progressing with the four month feasibility study with SMARTCryum undertaking desk top research. This has been to review the work that has taken place to emulate best practices and also ensure that there is no duplication of effort within the fashion sector. To read the latest on this sustainability initiative for Welsh wool and textile recycling tap here.

Newtown Jobs Fair Today, Annabella and Judith are at a Jobs Fair located in the Pryce Jones building, home of Fashion-Enter Wales in Newtown, Powys.

Annabella commented directly from the fair: “Judith and myself are at the jobs fair. Jack has helped to set up the stand and provide support. We’ve had lots of interest for the stitching course and the story of how the factory was started in Newtown. It’s absolutely buzzing here. Such an amazing event which has given us the opportunity to engage with people who have access to pools of possible learners who would like to enrol on our stitching course and skill up to be future stitchers. We’ve also been promoting Spyce Jones!” 

Fashion-Enter at Finsbury Park Job Centre

Today, 2nd March, Jenni Sutton visited Finsbury Park Job Centre to talk to the staff and their candidates about the training and job opportunities available at Fashion-Enter. Jenni commented: “It was wonderful to meet with candidates today who showed a genuine interest in learning a new skill and gaining employment in the industry. We will now enrol those who are interested onto the next Level 1 stitching course, and one lady with an impressive background in fashion will now be offered a trial at the factory to work as a machinist.”

N17 Creative Callings – Free Business Support

Factory manager Chris with Gary

On Monday (28th February) Gary from Silver Rox collected his full order of his fabulous Doot Suit! Gary requested pre-orders from customers and the suit has sold out already! Gary began his journey with us on the Level 2 Perfect Patterns course and gained further business support and insight on the N17 Creative Callings program. Talk about fast track learning…and for free! There is still time to join this free business support program from ESF and the GLA please email: jenni@fashion-enter.com  

Modesty Wear Brands Launch Event at the FC Designer Workspace

On 23rd March from 10am – 1pm three brands will unite as they collectively launch three separate collections with a focus on ethical, modern modesty wear. The launch will take place at the FC Designer Workspace, where Majida Sayam, founder of Anaqa Apparel, Nabila founder of ENNAY Official and the three designers behind Shama – Afefat, Semira and Maria have all embarked on their first studio space to launch their businesses.  

The launch will provide an opportunity to meet the designers, hear their stories and watch sewing demonstrations on how their ideas come to life. The range of hijabs, modern dresses and kaftans will be available to buy in the FC Designer Collective shop on Fonthill Road from 24th March.  

To attend please email: jenni@fashion-enter.com 

Learner’s Feedback

Every quarter we hold a Learner Steering Committee that covers all four campuses; Wales, Leicester, Islington and Haringey and then all curriculum areas are covered too which are Patterns (Level 1 and 2), Stitching (Level 1 and 2) then apprenticeships (Levels 2 – 5). 

The Steering Committee is held by Fashion-Enter Ltd CEO, Jenny Holloway, as she wants to hear directly from the learners with no tutors or admin staff present. It’s a light hearted and fun session but it does have a real significant meaning – one that puts the learner at the heart of the Fashion Technology Academy. Learners are encouraged to give feedback, good, bad and halfway house, and a feedback form is provided too.

To read about the latest FTA Learner Steering Committee tap here.

Flanelle Mag Interview Aimee Joyce

Aimee Joyce London designs

It is always wonderful to see designers blossom and grow and Aimee Joyce has done just that! Aimee came to us as Pattern Cutting student, she understood the importance of garment construction skills and knowledge to support her designs. Earlier this month she launched her debut womenswear collection ‘A Love Letter to Women’ during London Fashion Week and gained the attention of press and buyers. In this recent interview with Flanelle Mag she talks about her fashion journey and FashionCapital gets a mention too! Tap here to read the article. 

From the interview: ‘I also attended a government funded college, FashionCapital, where I learnt about pattern cutting and constructing garments. Taking the longer route allowed me to learn a lot about myself, something that may have been stripped from me at university. It was however extremely challenging at times, so that was also a massive learning curve.’

Please Note Fashion Studio Clients…

Gee from the Fashion Studio has asked if clients could please come in and collect any leftover fabrics and trims by 7th March as the team need the storage space. Thank-you. 

Masterclasses and Courses

Fashion-Enter Ltd & Kornit Digital – Innovation in Manufacturing (3 & 4 March – for manufacturers’)

Technical Design and Pattern Cutting CAD Course (12 March 12-weekly Saturday classes with online support)

Meet Designer Louisa Parris (17 March – free)

Gerber 3-day course for beginners (6 – 8 April)

Optitex 2D & 3D 3-Day Course (26 – 28 April)

Fabric Swatch of the Week

As tomorrow is World Wildlife Day it seems appropriate to pick out this fabulous animal/nature inspired print, created in-house on the sustainable Kornit Presto! Now available from the FC Fabric Studio at £4.50 per metre.

This Week on FashionCapital

Trend forecasters at the leading textile trade show Premiere Vision cite ‘comfort’ as the watchword for AW 22/23 and this is certainly reflected in the fabrics and styles coming through. Tap here to read the full article.

And Finally…

A big well done and shout out to Millie who organised the Mode Collective Charity Fashion Show in Leicester last Friday. The event showcased 15 local designers and we were on hand to talk about the industry opportunities available in the area. The turnout was fantastic and the event was buzzing.

CEO Jenny Holloway comments: “It was great to support the Mode Collective event and see 15 designers collaborating as one to showcase design talent. More fashion designers from DMU now stay in Leicester after graduating which highlights the growing fashion clustering that is now occurring. The event was sold out and a positive ‘can do’ attitude clearly shone through to well and truly put Leicester on the fashion map!”

We couldn’t sign off without acknowledging the awful news coming from the Ukraine, our prayers for peace go out to those caught up in this atrocity.

Until next time, from the team at FashionCapital




<< back to Newsletters