On the 8th December it was fantastic to welcome a group of students from Nottingham Trent University to the FCFTA Leicester for an informative and hands-on Technical Residency.
Technical Residencies are a great way to combine a mix of practical sessions and education. These sessions can be tailor made to suit the needs of the learners.
This 3-hour residency kicked off with an overview of sourcing strategies provided by Fashion-Enter Ltd Deputy CEO Jackie Bertram, this covered topics such as; Made in the UK, setting a sourcing strategy and key considerations.
Following this the group went on to the practical element. The Academy is fully equipped with cutting tables and a great assortment of industrial sewing machines. Under the careful instruction of Sewing Tutor, Zarina, the students learnt how to sew using the overlock and lock stitch industrial machines.
They were provided with the option to make a tote bag, top, sweatshirt or joggers – and were shown how to expertly construct them using a multiple of machines. The results were fantastic and it’s incredible to see what can be achieved in just a few hours.
The practical workshop includes:
- How to use an industrial sewing machine (threading, health and safety and tips and tricks)
- Thread tension
- Learn about different seams and finishings for a range of fabric qualities
- Practical exercises to develop cutting, stitching and finishing standards and knowledge
- Understanding industry patterns and markers
- Upcycling
Feedback from the Residency was excellent and included:
“I learnt how sourcing strategies work and how factories work.”
“I found out about sourcing methods – it was a fun day.”
“It was a great experience and very hands on!”
“I was able to create my own tote bag made of fleece fabric, using the overlock machine! It was an awesome experience, and I am so glad I got to be part of this trip to Fashion-Enter Ltd.”
“Had an amazing talk about sourcing and on shore factories within the supply chain at multiple market level. Followed by a practical session on industry standard machines. Can’t wait to visit more factories throughout my career and love seeing micro factories pop up throughout the UK!”
To find out more about the FCFTA Technical Residencies and Workshops tap here.