BRITISH SHIRTMAKER INVESTS IN LOCAL TALENT TO DRIVE INDUSTRY

Celebrated British shirtmaker throws her support behind a new community sewing studio in Gloucester

Five years ago, Emma Willis, MBE DL, whose shirt-making factory is based in a beautiful old building in the centre of Gloucester, was invited to No 10 Downing Street to talk about British manufacturing and her concern that the country wasn’t capitalising on the value of the “Made in Britain” label.

The government introduced Emma to Jonathan Newhouse, Chairman of Conde Nast International, which was also championing the British clothing manufacturing industry, and together they set up the Emma Willis Sewing Scholarship.

The scholarship involves a year’s paid training at her Gloucester factory.

Now Emma has supported one of her sewing scholars, Aysha Randera, in setting up a studio, based in the Friendship Café in Gloucester. The studio will offer free clothes-making facilities, sewing classes and a social place to make new friends in this multi-cultural city.

Government data reveals that in 2017, 109,000 people were employed within textiles and apparel manufacture (excluding the self-employed), an increase of one per cent on the previous year.

Initiatives such as Emma’s are helping to boost the numbers which show a steady growth.

Aysha, who runs The Friendship Café with Imran Atcha, is Emma’s fifth sewing scholar. Aysha now wants to pass her skills on to others in the city, for their pleasure or to pursue careers in the industry.

Emma’s company donated four industrial sewing machines to the café, as well as a £25,000 4x4 to partner charity City Farm. The cost of creating the new studio was covered by local Gloucestershire families who have also given support to City Farm and The Friendship Cafe.

Much of the refurbishment work was provided by local volunteers including a team of offenders and ex-offenders as part of the Gloucester Community Pay Back programme. The classes at the studio are particularly attended by refugees with sewing skills who find a place to make new friends and practise their sewing and English which is also taught.

The UK’s fashion and textile manufacturing sector produces products worth £9.1 billion, ranging from designer creations seen at the leading catwalks to fabrics used in medical, defence and transport industries.