14 Jul My Week at Fashion-Enter Ltd – A Work Experience Reflection


By Nicholas, Year 10 Student

My name is Nicholas, I’m 15 years old, and I recently had the amazing opportunity to spend a week at Fashion-Enter Ltd for my Year 10 work experience. I chose to come here because I’ve always had a strong passion for fashion design and garment construction. I currently study both Art and Textiles for GCSE and have just begun my NEA coursework. These subjects are a big part of my long-term goal to become a fashion designer.

My journey into fashion began through drawing and illustrating garments in my spare time. For the past two years, I’ve also been attending the Fashion & Business Club at Instituto Marangoni as part of the National Saturday Club. Although I’m sad the sessions there are no longer running, that experience taught me so much—especially how fulfilling it is to design an entire collection based on inspiration, rather than just one garment. My interest is also supported at home; my grandad, who used to run a dressmaking factory, teaches me how to cut and sew patterns together on the weekends.

I knew that Fashion-Enter would offer an incredible insight into the workings of a real UK garment factory. I wanted to see how different departments operate and what kinds of roles exist across the business. I was really grateful to be given the chance to shadow team members and learn from professionals working in the industry every day.

From the moment I arrived, I was never left without something to do. The team kept me busy with a variety of tasks, all of which helped me gain practical experience and a deeper understanding of the fashion production process.

One of my highlights was shadowing Sunniva in Garment Tech, where I learned how to measure garments during manufacturing to ensure they met exact specifications. I also got to work with Ellie in the United Repair Centre and see first-hand how garments are repaired—an eye-opening experience that made me realise how important it is for designers to think about repairability from the start.

I spent time with Chen in quality control, where I helped with tasks like unpicking stitching on damaged leggings to prepare them for repair. I also organised fabric and thread supplies, edited TikToks to help promote the company, and even unpicked sections of an Orla Kiely dress for an upcoming photo shoot. I can now proudly say that I “helped make the dress” (technically!).

Unfortunately, I didn’t get a chance to spend a day with Beth, who was incredibly busy throughout the week. That was a bit of a disappointment as she designs garments sold by the factory—something I’m really keen to learn more about as an aspiring designer. Still, I’m very thankful to her for making my placement possible.

One standout moment was joining a school group on an in-depth tour of the factory with Caroline. We explored the business side of the operation, learning how garments are priced and how profit is calculated based on the manufacturing process. Caroline also demonstrated a fascinating new AI design software that allows designers to fit clothes on virtual models. This means they can test out different colours, sizes, and styles without having to wait for physical samples—a game-changer for modern fashion design.

What made this experience even more special was how welcoming the team was. They included me in conversations at lunch and during breaks, and made me feel like part of the team rather than just a student on work experience. Even when I arrived half an hour late on the first day due to train issues, they were understanding and kind. Everyone was patient, helpful, and always ready to explain what they were doing.

This experience has confirmed that I definitely want to pursue a career in fashion design. However, it’s also made me think differently about how I design. I now understand the importance of creating garments that can be easily repaired if needed, adding another layer of thought and responsibility to the design process.

I hope that I can return to Fashion-Enter in the future for an internship or a temporary placement after college or university. And if I ever do become a fashion designer, Fashion-Enter will be the first manufacturer I’ll think of when it’s time to bring my designs to life.

I never thought I’d feel sad at the end of work experience, but leaving Fashion-Enter was genuinely emotional. It was the perfect place for me to learn, grow, and be inspired—and I’m extremely thankful to Beth and the entire team for making my week so memorable.

This has been an incredible first step into the world of fashion, and I’ll carry everything I learned with me as I move forward in my journey to becoming a designer.