07 Sep Creating a Circular Economy…Locally

It is now well documented that fashion is a dirty polluter globally, but Fashion-Enter Ltd (FEL) is aiming to make a difference, especially with waste. For the past four-years FEL has created its own circular economy throughout the business and the different campuses and factory sites.  

According to Greenpeace we buy more clothes per person in the UK than any country in Europe. And around 300,000 tonnes of used clothes are burned or buried in landfill each year.

FEL has two mission aims – to be a centre of excellence for ethical manufacturing and to be a leading training provider in the UK for technical skills. The two work together perfectly as mission statements and explains why FEL can run programs effectively such as the FC Designer Workspace and the FC Designer Collective shop at Fonthill Road. 

A unique circular economy now exists between the three units at Fashion-Enter Ltd Haringey at Crusader Estate, Islington FC Designer Workspace and Islington FC Designer Collective which ensures that all the fabric and trims that they buy for their core production re-enters the local economy completely!  

Caroline Ash, Production Director FEL commented: “We spend £ms annually on quality fabrics that are tested to high specs that are required by leading retailers such as ASOS, Very Group, N Brown etc and we have to make sure that we offer absolutely the best value for money with high performing fabrics.

“We always have to order 10% over the docket order quantity because you have to cater for damages in the fabric. This therefore results in leftover fabric varying from just a few meters per order to sometimes half a roll. We never throw this fabric away and contribute to landfill. We often donate smaller pieces to our different Academies at Haringey, Islington, Leicester and Newtown in Wales, or we will sell off the fabrics via fcfabricstudio.com or at our shop in Fonthill Road.

“Students are allowed to buy the fabrics at rock bottom prices – far less than the actual cost price. We are now undertaking a full clearance and stock take with our factory’s and we have new fabrics going to the shop and academies every single week! They are absolute bargains.”

Recently at the shop at FC Designer Collective at 113-115  Fonthill Road, Islington, Jenny Holloway was undertaking a review of the new seasons merchandise and a student came into the shop asking for some yellow fabric.

Jenny said: “It was such a specific request I asked why she wanted the fabric and asked if she was a fashion designer. She wasn’t at all. She was part of the Gen Z movement that hates fast fashion. She hates landfill and she loathes carbon emissions. She was so articulate in her condemnation for fast fashion I was seriously impressed by her passion. She had no experience of making clothes but she was going to have a go!  

“We then spent the next two hours discussing how to recycle garments, what Fibresort was and how to create a mini circular economy here in Islington. This then led on to some new community workshops.”

For courses please email: education@fashion-enter.com  

For a review of our fabrics please email: anna-maria@fashion-enter.com