21 Oct Islington Council Gain Best Circular Economy Achievement

A trailblazing initiative at the heart of Islington’s sustainability efforts has earned national recognition, winning Best Circular Economy Achievement at the LARAC Celebration Awards 2025. Delivered in collaboration with Islington Council and key partners including Fashion-Enter Ltd (FEL), the programme is being celebrated for its dynamic, community-led approach to waste reduction, repair, and reuse.

(LARAC Conference and Awards image by Karla Gowlett)

As part of Islington’s sustainability programme the FC Designer Collective shop at 113-115 Fonthill Road, just minutes from Finsbury Park station, offers free, bi-monthly clothing repair and upcycling workshops—welcoming residents into a friendly environment where fashion meets sustainability.

These lively drop-in sessions, supported by Islington Council through its Affordable Workspace scheme, have become a cornerstone of the borough’s circular fashion and climate action efforts. Held twice a month and scheduled through to March 2026, the workshops give people practical tools to extend the life of their clothes and rethink their relationship with fashion.

“These classes are RAMMED! We have queues outside!” Said  Jenny Holloway, CEO, Fashion-Enter Ltd

What makes FC Designer Collective unique is its connection to FC Designer Workspace, just around the corner. The workspace offers affordable studios, industry-led courses, and professional development opportunities for local makers, designers, and creatives. This link between education, enterprise, and community action is what sets the initiative apart.

Participants can not only learn how to repair and upcycle clothes but also access a pathway into sustainable fashion careers—whether that’s starting their own brand, accessing shared studio space, or upskilling through FEL’s accredited training programmes.

The success of the workshops is part of a larger, borough-wide push to embed circular economy principles across Islington. Over the past year, Islington Council’s waste minimisation team and partners have delivered:

• 28 community events
• Engaged 1,700+ residents
• 472 items repaired or upcycled
• 2,355 garments swapped

The sessions at Fonthill Road are complemented by electrical repair cafés, furniture repair sessions, and clothes swap shops—run in partnership with LOANHOOD, The Restart Project, Islington Fixers, and more.

With funding support from TRAID, Kingdom Services Group, and the North London Waste Authority, and day-to-day leadership from shop coordinator Leyla (aka the Queen of Seams), the initiative demonstrates how local action can drive national change.

The recognition at the 40th annual LARAC Conference places Islington’s circular economy work at the forefront of innovation in the waste and recycling sector—showcasing how repair and reuse can be embedded into everyday life through accessible, community-rooted spaces like the FC Designer Collective.

The next drop-in workshop takes place on Tuesday 28th October at the FC Designer Collective shop, 113-115 Fonthill Road. Sessions continue twice monthly, and all are welcome.

Book your place via FashionCapital’s Eventbrite page

For more information on the repair and upcycle workshops, visit Islington Life