06 Jun Westfield Sustainable Workshop Success

Members of the FEL team had a great time at the Westfield Good Festival last week (29th May & 1st June). FEL’s workshop sessions were available at both Westfield centres in White City and Stratford, and the feedback from both was brilliant.

Westfield is well-known for its innovative shopping events and this time the focus was on conscious consumption, sustainable fashion, waste reduction and upcycling.

On both dates FEL team members hosted two workshops Refreshed Threads an upcycling workshop and The Perfect Fit where participants could learn different hand stitching techniques to achieve the correct fit. FEL’s CEO Jenny Holloway, also presented a 1 hour masterclass that attracted 15 attendees, ‘Behind the seams of ethical and sustainable fashion’ to talk to small independent business owners about ethical and sustainable practices in the industry from audits to greenwashing. FEL’s pitch had created such a buzz that they even had visitors from the stores take part in the masterclass, with 2 extra attendees that wanted to know more about how to create an ethical and sustainable future on behalf of their business. 

Jenny commented: “I have to say, I think it is very impressive that a leading shopping centre such as Westfield has been actively promoting sustainability and recycling. At the Stratford centre the workshops were particularly busy for parents and their children, so it was great to see multi-generations sewing and upcycling garments. 

“Without blowing our own trumpet our stands were continuously full and we were delighted to be able to recycle some garments that we had left over from previous production. This event was completely in line with our ethos on sustainability, where nothing goes to waste. At Fashion-Enter we make sure that we recycle, upcycle everything that we have, this also includes threads, trims, buttons, fabrics etc in our shop – FC Designer Collective and at our FC Designer Workspace and also, of course our Fashion Technology Academy.

“More and more shopping centres need to engage on these grassroots projects and wouldn’t it be great if we took this to the next level and we did a pop-up shop for recycled clothing along with a masterclass at the same time so people could come along, learn and buy. There’s a world of opportunities, and with that in mind it’s interesting that we are guest speakers at the Drapers Future of Fashion event on Thursday 8th June.”

The information and components from these two-day seminars were provided to the tenants and designers of the FC Designer Workspace and FC Designer Collective, with the aim of discussing change management and how the future is for the fashion sector.  FEL was also trying to actively recruit for the FCDW and during both speeches compere Jenny Holloway, CEO, discussed the FCDW and the aims of having a circular economy in Islington for fashion.