The UK’s first Tailoring Academy, based in Haringey, has won the Local Authority Building Control (LABC), Building Excellence Award 2020 – under the ‘Small Commercial Project ‘category. The LABC Building Excellence Awards 2020 focus on the very best in technical innovation and construction quality, helping to raise the level of construction quality across England and Wales.
The criteria used to shortlist winners include the use of creative solutions to improve sustainability and energy efficiency, as well as cooperative team working.
The Tailoring Academy, officially opened by the CEO of ASOS, Nick Beighton, in November 2019, is a collaborative venture between Haringey Council and project partners – social enterprise, Fashion-Enter and Jan Kattein Architects. It pioneers the use of mass-production methods in the manufacture of tailored goods and is the only mass-manufacturer of tailored goods in the UK.
The Academy was set up to support economic growth in Haringey and the wider clothing and fashion sector across London, providing much-needed jobs, income, and other opportunities for the local community. It also acts as a training facility, providing specialist skills and job training in the clothing manufacturing and fashion sector, up to NVQ Level 6 and apprenticeships and technical skills Levels 1 to 5 – offering Haringey residents an opportunity to fulfil their dream careers right on the doorstep.
Fashion-Enter produces higher level apprenticeships for a host of retailers including Gieves & Hawkes, Harrods, Ralph & Russo, Tesco and Amazon, and has tailoring contracts with Karen Millen and Brora.
The 11,000 square foot state-of-the-art space produces clothing for a range of high-profile retailers, such as ASOS, M&S, Jaeger and Savile Row, and provides a sustainable response to the increasing public consciousness around social and environmental impact of fast fashion.
The project was initially funded £430,000 from the Greater London Authority (GLA) following a bid put forward by the council’s Economic Development team, in partnership with Fashion-Enter. The council was also able to provide £225,000 in match funding for the building refurbishment works and Jan Kattein Architects led the overall design and architectural works of the building. The refurbishment works were carried out by Diamond Build, a local builder based in Tottenham.
The initial Awards were cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic, however, the winners were announced via a digital ceremony.
Cllr Gideon Bull, Cabinet Member for Local Investment and Economic Growth, said: “We are absolutely thrilled to see The Tailoring Academy recognised with the LABC Building Excellence Award. As home to the only mass-manufacturer of tailored goods in the UK, we are proud to be leading the way on reducing the environmental impact of fast fashion and creating sustainable manufacturing practices.
“The Academy brings together the very best in the industry to share best practice. It is an invaluable boost to our local economy, not only providing more career prospects and opportunities for locals, but also offering specialist skills training for the next generation of home-grown fashion talent, right from Haringey’s wonderfully diverse borough.”
Jenny Holloway, CEO of Fashion-Enter, said: “The award really commemorates the team effort that is behind the Tailoring Academy with the public and private sector working with long established clients such as ASOS.
“Learners now have a unique opportunity to use the very latest technology to gain industry skills to secure long-term employment. It has been an absolute pleasure to work with all the different parties involved.”
Jan Kattein, Director of Jan Kattein Architects, added: “Our design concept utilises a folded timber and glass screen to envelop pockets of workspace that accommodate the various design, production and learning processes in the otherwise open-plan warehouse.
“The design maximises the visual inter-dependency between study and production spaces encouraging skills transfer. The aim was to create a warm learning environment that also responds to the functional needs of high-end tailoring production.”
Learn more about The Tailoring Academy and its courses.