GLASGOW’S Fashion Foundry develops and supports up-and-coming talents within Scottish fashion design.
Funded by Creative Scotland, Fashion Foundry is a non-profit Cultural Enterprise Office project ran by director Alan Dibble and project coordinator Ciorstaidh Monk.
The organisation seeks to find, develop and support emerging Scottish designers through offering a programme of practical workshops, advice, bespoke mentoring and access to sampling and sewing facilities. It provides a platform to help designers achieve international success while continuing to be based in Scotland.
Fashion Foundry’s pilot programme ran from 2012-2014 supporting 10 promising start-up designers who were at the very early stages of their businesses. It then went through a development phase in 2015 to pave the way for the current 12-month project running from May 2016 to May 2017.
The programme consists of three main parts: emerging business, changing gear and the wider fashion community.
Currently, Fashion Foundry have five emerging designer businesses based in South Block, Glasgow. The bright and airy studio offers the start-up’s access to sampling and small run production facilities. Designers also have the opportunity to attend monthly workshops with industry experts, as well as being paired with a mentor.
The five start-up designers are Barbara Kolasinski on her self-entitled label, mentored by Kevin Harding; Ian McDonald of Sleekit, mentored by Samantha Paton; Piotr Pyrchala of Birds of Prayers, mentored by Mairi McDonald; Robert Newman of New Bedford, mentored by Alec Farmer and Rachel McMillian of her eponymous label, mentored by Lisa Taylor. The designers have each graduated from some of the best UK art schools and fashion design courses.
The start-up businesses have received ongoing support from high street fashion retailer Topshop and Topman, including one-on-one’s with creative directors Jackie Markham and Gordon Richardson, and an exciting launch in their Glasgow flagship store.
Fashion Foundry also currently have three changing gear designers. They are further on in their businesses and have been paired with industry expert mentors to assist in identifying and overcoming issues restricting growth.
The three changing gear designers are Kirsteen Stewart of her eponymous label, mentored by Angela Bell; Elizabeth Martin of Elizabeth Martin Tweet, mentored by Kestin Hare; and Sally-Ann Provan of her eponymous label, mentored by Chris Gaffney.
For anyone in the wider fashion community, Fashion Foundry provides free monthly meet-ups and workshops covering topics such as costing work, social media and branding.They can also arrange advice sessions with expert industry associates, as well as access to the sampling room to produce short runs based upon previous experience.
Fashion Foundry is planning to open applications for its next programme in spring this year. See: www.culturalenterpriseoffice.co.uk/programmes/fashion-foundry/
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