NEXT Apprentices Experience Hands-On Workshops with Maeknit and LaundRe

On Friday, August 15th, six apprentices from Next took part in an engaging three-hour workshop at Fashion-Enter Ltd’s head office in London, led by Naeem Riaz,  founder of Maeknit. During this practical session, the apprentices learned how to utilise the software to create their own designs. By the end of the session, each apprentice had crafted their individual artwork and watched the entire knitting process unfold in just under 30 minutes. This fast-paced process allowed them to experiment freely and preview their designs on screen before seeing them being knitted. They also gained valuable knowledge about the different machines involved, such as linking, washing, and pressing, as well as the software used to design their samples.

 

Founder Naeem Raiz said, “It was an absolute pleasure to host the NEXT apprentices. Their enthusiasm, eagerness to learn, and respectful demeanour really stood out. They engaged thoughtfully with the material and techniques, asked insightful questions, and demonstrated a genuine interest in the industry. Their positive energy and professionalism made the experience enjoyable for everyone involved. I have no doubt they will bring the same dedication and curiosity to their future roles at NEXT.”

In the afternoon, the apprentices visited LaundRe, a circular denim hub in East London. LaundRe specialises in transforming unsold jeans into new finishes by using clean, sustainable technology on demand. Salli Deighton, the CEO of LaundRe, guided the group on an engaging tour, showcasing various machines such as  Jeanologia, Yilmak, and Fulton.

Salli explained her business model:

• ·       Re Finish: Unsold and dead stock can be transformed with sustainable technology into new denim finishes for full-price resale.
• ·        Re Shore: Import unfinished jeans into the UK and finish on demand in response to sales. Flexible and responsive approach to fast fashion.
• ·        Re Educate : Train the next generation of denim scientists and pioneers on how to produce denim from soil to sale, responsibly.

 

 

Lan Leeder, Head of Education at FEL/FTA, said, “Thank you, Salli, for the insightful and informative session today. From circular thinking to cutting-edge laser technology, LaundRe are finding smarter ways to reprocess unsold denim, and the results are truly inspiring! The apprentices thoroughly enjoyed the session, leaving with a wealth of information on the various finishing techniques and machines used in creating different finishes on denim.”