Fashion Hub Leicester To Host Industry Masterclass for New Designers – 22nd January
The Leicester Fashion Hub is set to host an essential industry masterclass, How to Get Factory-Ready Before You Spend a Penny, aimed at supporting emerging designers as they prepare to take their first steps into production.
Taking place on Thursday 22nd January 2026 from 10:00–11:00am at the Fashion Hub Phoenix House, Leicester, the session will be led by industry expert Caroline Trend. The masterclass is designed to give new and early-stage designers a clear understanding of what UK manufacturers need before they can take on a project – helping to bridge the gap between creative ideas and successful production.
The session will cover key topics such as preparing designs and tech packs, choosing appropriate fabrics and trims, understanding costs, minimum order quantities (MOQs), timelines, and sampling processes. Designers will also gain insight into common mistakes that often prevent factories from responding, and how to communicate clearly and professionally with manufacturers.
How to Get Factory-Ready Before You Spend a Penny
A practical, in-person workshop for early-stage designers preparing for sampling and manufacturing
Overview:
This in-person workshop is designed for early-stage designers and start-ups who are thinking about sampling or production but want to check where they are before committing time or money.
The session looks at the practical decisions that need to be made before approaching a manufacturer, helping designers understand what’s essential at this stage, what can wait and where early mistakes often lead to unnecessary cost or delays. The workshop is interactive and discussion-led, with a strong focus on direction, confidence and realistic next steps.
What the Workshop Will Focus On:
- What manufacturers need upfront to assess whether a project is viable
- How to check your designs, tech packs have all the relevant info before moving into sampling
- Fabric and trim considerations that need deciding early on (and what doesn’t)
- Understanding quantities, budgets and realistic timelines early on
- What “good enough” preparation looks like before approaching a factory
- Common early stage mistakes that lead to wasted time and money
Who This Workshop is For:
- Early stage designer planning their first samples
- Start ups unsure if they are ready to approach a manufacturer
- Designers who want to avoid costly mistakes before sampling and production
- Anyone feeling overwhelmed by the jump from design to manufacturing
What Attendees Will Leave With:
- A clearer understanding of what “factory-ready” really means at an early stage
- Confidence in knowing when (and when not) to move into sampling
- A practical checklist of what needs to be in place before contacting a factory
- A practical Factory Ready checklist to use as a reference after the session
- Clear, realistic next steps on their current stage
This is a free masterclass and networking session, places are limited please register to secure your place by tapping here.