From the week commencing 6th July, Fashion-Enter Ltd (FEL) and the Fashion Technology Academy (FTA) Haringey welcomed three groups for factory tours and industry seminars led by FEL Director Caroline Ash. Each session was tailored to suit the group’s course focus or career interests, ensuring students received relevant insights into the fashion industry, manufacturing, sustainability, technology, and career opportunities.
The week began with a visit from Beth Jacob Grammar School.
Caroline Ash said: “We had Beth Jacob Grammar School with us to kick off the week, and they were a brilliant group to start with.
“I was really impressed by the level of knowledge the students came in with – they were engaged from the start and asked thoughtful questions throughout. The seminar was highly successful, with fantastic participation and discussion that kept the energy up the whole time.
“We received some great feedback afterwards too, with both students and staff saying they found it really valuable. It set the tone perfectly for the week ahead.”
Students shared positive feedback following the visit, including:
“I learnt how clothes are made. I have really enjoyed today and it was very interesting. Thank you.”
“I found out how different machines work and the difference between making and home and in a factory. Thank you so much I really enjoyed it.”
“I have learnt the reason clothes are so expensive because so much hard work and effort goes into each item. Thank you I really enjoyed it.”
The second visit welcomed two students from Immerse Education, allowing for a highly personalised learning experience.
Caroline Ash said:
“We then had a very small group in – just 2 students from Immerse Education – so it turned into an extremely bespoke seminar.
“Both students were studying Fine Art and Digital, so we tailored the session around them. We started by walking through our business model and the full garment lifecycle, from concept to finished product.
“From there we went into much more detail on different job roles across the business, and the opportunities available to people with a creative and digital background. It gave them a chance to ask lots of questions and really dig into how their skills could translate into the industry.
Having such a small group meant we could make it really personal to them, and they got a lot out of it.”
One student commented:
“I have learned some different jobs and technology used in the fashion industry now and I know more about the important role that AI can play in the fashion industry. It was really good and meaningful.”
The week concluded with a visit from Queen’s Park Sixth Form, whose students showed a particular interest in UK garment manufacturing and responsible production.
Caroline Ash said:
“We wrapped up the week with Queen’s Park Sixth Form.
“The group was particularly interested in manufacturing, so they really enjoyed every part of the factory tour. We also spent time covering ethics, sustainability, and the differences between near-shore and far-shore production.
“It was a great note to finish on — they said they’d love to come back again next year.”
Feedback from Queen’s Park Sixth Form included:
“I learnt loads about business / sustainability / costs / AI and technology. It was so useful – this really opened my eyes to loads of aspects about fashion and social enterprise, thank you.”
“I learnt about the variety of job types within the fashion industry. Very cool and informative!”
“It was very interesting and I learnt a lot about sustainability and how a fashion industry runs. Really cool and a great way to learn about business.”
The week’s programme successfully demonstrated the value of industry-led education, providing students with first-hand insight into UK fashion manufacturing, ethical production, emerging technologies, sustainability, and the wide range of careers available across the fashion sector. The consistently positive feedback received across all three groups highlights the impact of these tailored factory tours and seminars in inspiring future talent and strengthening links between education and industry.