On Thursday 10th March, the Fashion-Enter team welcomed a group of Year 1 students on the BA (Hons) Fashion Buying and Brand Management course at Ravensbourne University. This degree course encourages creative flair whilst also developing business understanding, knowledge of buying cycles, sales performance, product development, fabric sourcing and testing, the supply chain, the importance of sustainability and fashion brand development.
Fashion-Enter’s Production Director, Caroline Ash, tailored the Factory tour and seminar to include key areas of focus in line with the students studies. She covered design, pattern cutting, costings, how decisions at buying level affect the production process, how to spot cabbage and unethical practices right through to quality control.
The course leader commented: “Great tips for the students as potential buyers. What to look out for and great to get real cost and time ideas. Thank-you really insightful, I have been to a few factories in my time but really enjoyed it. 10 out of 10.”
Feedback from the group included:
“I got behind the scenes and learnt about the process of what really goes into the garments that are being made for brand. Tour guide was very interesting. Appreciated how passionate and detailed the speaker was.”
“I gained in-depth knowledge about the industry, how to spot ‘cabbage’ as well as unethical factories. Really insightful day.”
“I learnt how the factory can be split into larger production and bespoke production within the same building. Really informative and interesting.”
“I learnt about the timings of each process and how to cost correctly.”
“I found out about the garment making process from start to finish. How factories function and each workers job.”
“I gained insightful information about the runnings of a factory and how the role of a buyer links to this. I really enjoyed it, thank-you.”
“I found out really thorough information about every step from a garment to making the garment. I has been really insightful.”