JUST IN! William Gee proud to announce collaboration with Fashion Enter

WE’RE SO EXCITED to let you know that William Gee have teamed up with Fashion Enter, an award-winning social enterprise within the fashion and textiles industry based in London. But before we tell you more, we wanted to ask you this: 

• Are you a fashion student looking to gain exposure to the highest level of manufacturing in Britain?
• Are you looking to gain lifelong stitching, production and apparel manufacturing skills?
• Are you interested in embarking on a new creative business in the fashion and clothing trade?

If you answered YES to any of the above, then Fashion Technology Academy is for you.

Fashion Enter is committed to supporting the fashion industry by being a centre of excellence for skills development and a resource for fast track production for leading retailers, e-tailers, designers and start up own label businesses. Garments are made to the highest possible quality standards for client’s orders ranging from a quantity of 1 – 8,000 a week at its North London based ethical Factory.

To facilitate this aim, Fashion Enter launched the UK’s first Fashion Technology Academy in 2015 and offers a range of qualifications at Levels 1 to 5, which cover the complete ‘Garment life cycle’ including Stitching, Production, Pattern Cutting and the Level 3 Apparel Manufacturing apprenticeship and Level 5 Bespoke Tailoring Diploma. 

Oficially launched in November 2015 the fully equipped FTA is an extension of the successful Stitching Academy and includes a range of qualifications at Levels 1 to 4, which cover the entire of the ‘Garment life cycle’ including Stitching, Production and Pattern Cutting. Fashion Enter is also one of the largest training providers of Advanced Apprenticeships at Levels 3 and 4 within Apparel Manufacturing (fashion) working with employers such as ASOS.com, Marks & Spencer, River Island, Debenhams, Jigsaw, M and Co and the Arcadia Group.

The FTA is the first apparel manufacturing training academy in the country to operate alongside a live Factory and Fashion Studio ensuring that students gain exposure to real ‘Best of British’ manufacturing skills whilst training for their accredited qualifications. The FTA has been created to train a new generation of skilled workers to ensure that the UK apparel manufacturing sector continues to thrive.

Fashion Technology Academy Stories

Aisling Duffy completed the Level 1 and 2 Stitching Academy and has now embarked on her own creative business:

“I was recommended to come to Fashion Enter to complete the Stitching Academy course by the Princes Trust, after the course my confidence with stitching was amazing and the tutors were brilliant. I’ve had such a good experience, I have made so many friends and built up a great network” 

Marquel joined the Level 1 and Level 2 Stitching and then progressed onto the Level 3 apprenticeship with a sample machinist role at DSI Clothing who produce the costumes for Strictly Come Dancing:

“I love working with Strictly, I’m learning at a fast pace which is motivating me – I love to learn!  I feel and see my skills growing as I’m working on more and more advanced garments.  I have the ability to show my passion, which is making clothes, whilst continuing to develop”

The FTA also offer non accredited short courses including CAD training in Vetigraph and Gerber, TR Pattern Cutting taster and master courses and Production Pattern Cutting and Grading course with industry expert Maggie Stott:

“I found the lesson really beneficial, a real eye opener to see from the ‘other side’ of the pond! As we mainly do the design and pattern design here we sometimes do not understand the importance of the simplest things throwing out a pattern! (E.g. A rogue notch!) Maggie is so knowledgeable, it’s a real privilege to be able to learn just a little of her skills! I’m really looking forward to week 2″

William Gee and Fashion Enter have one common goal: To ensure that ‘Made in Britain’ becomes more than a slogan and that UK manufacturing continues to thrive.

Keep in touch with them on Facebook and Instagram, as well as further information (including all courses) can be found by heading over to their website here.