Industry

Factory Uncovered Seminar & Tours

By Caroline Ash Production Director Fashion Enter

“This was an excellent course / experience. Caroline condensed years of learning and experience into a few hours. Loved it! So worthwhile and wonderful to see the innovation, enthusiasm and expertise right here in London!”

Kate - Senior Production Manager - Organiser All Saints

Meet Caroline Ash

Caroline has 40-years’ experience as Production Director, at FEL, the only factory in the UK with leading status in the Fast Forward audit

She is a highly experienced production coordinator, sourcer and product developer with strong problem solving and analytical skills, delivering finished product that meet lead times, quality expectations and ethical requirements.

She has been Head of Production for various companies supplying the High Street making soft separates, dresses, tailoring, jersey and outerwear and has manufacturing experience in China, Turkey, Romania, Morocco, Bulgaria, Egypt as well as the UK.

Caroline’s experience and expertise has made her highly skilled at critical path management which includes ensuring fabrics and trims are delivered and approved in a timely manner, sealing dates are adhered to and if there are delays how mitigate them to ensure customer deadlines are maintained.

“Welcome to our Ethical Factory Tou In an age were where proximity sour important than ever for speed of res Junior staff and management can ha review of how factories work effectiv support speed of response fashion.

We will gear the content of the semin of the group that is attending.

These tours provide an excellent cos forward, enabling your team to visit the expense of going to near of offsh

FactoryTours

Fashion-Enter Ltd (FEL), an award-winning social enterprise, understands the need for total transparency within the supply chain. FEL is the only factory in the UK today with a leading status in the Fast Forward audit and also has SMETA audit with no non compliances.

Fashion Enter LTD is a UK garment supplier and factory working with ASOS, The Very Group, N Brown Group and Community Clothing. They also have a Fashion Studio where premium garment production is made for companies such as Louisa Parris and Saville Row Tailors Gormley and Gamble.

Over the last 17 years FEL has given students at Further Education and Secondary Schools as well as industry a unique and invaluable insight into the world of Fashion, Garment Production, Sustainability, Ethics, and Innovation.

FEL has two SMETA and Fast Forward approved factories in London and Wales, producing up to 20,000 units a week.

The factory site visit is a:

A four-hour Tour and Seminar

Up to a maximum of 10 attendees

The tours take place at the London factory based in Haringey and includes a tour of the Factory, Fashion Studio and Pattern Room plus a Seminar covering the garment life cycle within an Ethical Factory. It can be Tailor-made to suit the delegates requirements, job roles and level of experience and works particularly well for Buying, Merchandising, Design, Garment Tech, Sourcing, Ethical and Sustainability managers. We even have slanted our tours towards Business, Engineering, Foreign Tours and have recently run seminars with large Financial Institutions advising on investment!

There is flexibility with dates and times so we will work with you to find a suitable date.

Visiting the Factory and Fashion Studio Factory Tour

FEL'S core production centres on ladieswear in both jersey and woven fabrics, being manufactured by a team of highly experienced machinists that are from 12 different countries.

During the visit there is a live factory tour where there will be a review of cutting methodologies, all industrial machines, pressing, quality control plus there is deep dive into all production processes to understand the production methods that are used.

The factory is focused on speed of response quality production, from concept to delivery within a 2–3-week lead time. There is a unique transparent system called Galaxius that enables data to show who made what garment, when and how much they were paid, which prevents infringement of the Modern Slavery Act. This additionally provides FEL with constant improvement in efficiencies for optimum quality product.

“An understanding from a supplier’s side in many different aspects such as costings, garment considerations and lead times. Coming from a knitwear department this was a huge insight into UK manufacturing. Lots has changed since my visit years ago with the FRA and it was great to see the new developments!” Assistant Buyer River Island

Visiting the Factory and Fashion Studio

Fashion Studio

There will be access to our outstanding Couturier/Fashion Studio service where high-end garments are produces with minimum quantity of one. Garments range from haute couture, swimwear, lingerie, theatre costumes and bridal gowns

Current clients the Fashion Studio range from new business, start up and scale up brands such as Louisa Parris who is now showcased on Net-a-Porter and Gormley and Gamble Savile Row tailors for women

Here you will see the differences between bulk production in the factory and high end manufacture with the couturier, and analyse the difference in production methods.

Fashion Studio creates first patterns, toiling, samples, seals, grades and short run production from 1 unit to 100 units.

Finally, you will visit our pattern room to explore how the development process works.

“I learnt in detail about the use of Optitex and its uses in fit, costings – how we can bring the price down and factories abroad and the issues we need to be aware of as techs. Really enjoyed the afternoon. It was really good to see production and have an insight into the operation of this factory. Thank-you so much!” M&S Garment Tech

Designer - Louisa Parris

Designer - Ginger Lily

Designer - Kimberley Garner

LearningObjectives Topics include:

The Garment Life Cycle in relation to central management systems.

Review of current trends in garment manufacturing

Why is reshoring occurring?

How can a UK factory be competitive?

The Factory uncovered - compliance

What is SMETA?

What is Fast Forward?

What makes The Factory SMETA/Fast Forward approved – why we are a fully compliant factory.

Explanation of the Modern Slavery Act.

Cabbage

Dirty Tricks - 16 on 16 off

Overview of Galaxius – the ethical way forward

Transparency and workable margins for both sides

6 years development on transparent manufacturing explained with working examples

Live factory and Couturière tour (as per previous page) to understand the difference in processes

Fabric Delivery to Garment Delivery

Working with fabric stock held in factories.

Fabric testing the factory way - relaxed fabric v laying straight off the roll

Choosing the correct components for the garment

Understanding fabric consumption and the effects of cabbage How to stop cabbage

Design process to production - how it becomes 2D to 3D, along with design considerations from both a cost and manufacturing perspective.

Reoccurring problems with sealing and how to mitigate them

Processes, risks and elements of garment manufacturing that are costly to amend

Implications of the changes buyers make

How do factories calculate standard minutes, how long does it really take to make a garment.

How to incorporate performance related pay for machinists

Relating standard minutes to styles and machines

How are AQLs and in work checks really conducted in a Factory Environment?

The supply chain and challenges a supplier faces – a unique perspective from both buying and supply.

Why do retailer’s PO’s have a specific number per size yet factories over deliver on certain sizes?

Single cutting per sizes do not work – Fact. Why?

Ratios - cutting implications and cost savings for factories that should be passed on to buyers

Why are deliveries late when fabric is on time?

Costings

How are garments costed - working examples?

What is an open costing and how to verify supplier costings?

Standard minutes explained

Practical stitching operations that affect costing. Cover stitch is not twin needle do not pay a premium!

How to reduce the work content in a garment to get into margin/target price

Technological advancements within the industry, including our Kornit fully sustainable DTF and DTG printers

Summary

Feedback and review

* These topics can be amended to meet your individual needs

K i P i i

Kornit is the world’s leading Digital Ethical Printer with their advanced technology they use vegan pigment inks, without the use of water (except to clean the print heads) with no minimums, we can print 1 metre of fabric without the standard 500 metre minimum run

“This was a very thorough run through of start to end process and really good to see in person so I can have more context when negotiating cost prices.” ASOS

“I thought it was super clear and informative. It went at a good pace and covered all bases. The speaker and everyone we met were super friendly. Would recommend.” ASOS

Testimonials

“Amazing morning, perfect length of time to keep engaged. The speaker was really knowledgeable and engaging. Would definitely recommend.” ASDA

“Had a fantastic trip yesterday to Fashion-Enter! It was a wonderfully informative session and tour, showcasing the incredible talent of the staff in manufacturing garments for both luxury and high street clients.” AllSaints

“AllSaints production team had the amazing opportunity to visit Fashion-Enter for a factory visit and talk this morning. We all learned so much and I found it a highly beneficial day to further my understanding of production processes. I especially found it useful to understand how and where we can improve our production to be more ethical and sustainable.” Production Admin Assistant AllSaints

“It was great to learn both in the classroom and on the factory floor. Caroline was an excellent trainer. Thank-you it was really brilliant, exceeded expectations.” Ethical Trade Initiative

“Wonderful session that covered everything in just four hours, would love to spend longer time on a workshop / practice next time. Thank-you.” Sainsbury's

"I learnt a lot that I wish I had known earlier – so relevant! True cost of sampling, impact of buying decisions on the factory / cost / lead time. I can now appreciate the supplier’s position even more and now I am more informed to discuss. This should be rolled out earlier at entry / established level of Assistant Buyers! Thanks.” ASOS

“I learnt about buying tactics, innovation and construction. This was the most amazing tour with an inspiring lady! Super exciting to learn about the future of fashion and where you are going. Thank-you so much.” – ASDA

“I learnt loads about sustainability, ethics and standards, which was amazing! Really informative and clear information. Amazing, amazing, amazing!” – ASDA

“I learnt so much that I was oblivious to previously. Working in a branded department I was completely unaware of this side of the industry. Today has been so interesting and I was grateful to be able to attend. Thank-you” ASOS

“Really informative, I would highly recommend especially to graduates. Important for all garment techs and buyers to know and understand.” The Very Group

"I have learnt about the production process, implications of the late approvals, pattern cutting –3D fits were really interesting. Really informative and friendly!’ SBAA River Island

Howitworks

Each tour is 4 hours with a maximum of 10 attendees.

The tours take place at the London factory based in Haringey and includes a tour of the Factory and the Fashion Studio

If you require further information or to discuss flexibility on dates, times or duration, please contact Caroline Ash, directly

BOOK HERE

0208 809 3311

caroline@fashon-enter com

https://fcfta.com

When you exit Manor House tube (Piccadilly line) please take exit 7 and walk down Green Lanes past the Finsbury Arms pub which will be on your right hand side After the pub the next turning on the right is Hermitage Road (quite a long way down Green Lanes). Turn down this road and we are at the bottom of the road before the width restrictors. We are Unit 14, 13 and 4, please come to Reception which is unit 13.

“I have learnt more in-depth practices that can help me be better at my job and understand it better. Very in-depth tour, very well organised, great presentation with lots of information. Really enjoyed visiting a working factory.” M&S Garment Tech

“Fashion’s not about looking back. It’s always about looking forward.” Anna Wintour