The Fashion Studio

Established in 2008 the Fashion Studio creates first patterns, toiling, seals, grades and short run production from 1 unit to 300 units. The service also provides sampling without the construction of patterns e.g. press samples.
The price is charged at an hourly rate compared to the Factory, which has a garment unit rate. There is a wide cross section of clients that use the Fashion Studio ranging from new business start-ups such as Beanie & Bear and Tanya Elizabeth to established London Fashion Week designers such as PPQ, Richard Nicholl, Sophia Webster, Peter Pilotto and Thomas Tait along with brands such as Jaeger.

The Fashion Studio can stitch any product including tailoring, haute couture, wedding dresses, promotional garments, lingerie, swimwear and theatre costume garments. The Fashion Studio produced over a third of the Opening Ceremony garments for Olympic Games in 2012.

Services at The Fashion Studio can be combined with FashionCapital membership to offer a 10% reduction in fees and has mentored clients such as Joy of Clothes from its initial conception.

How it works at The Fashion Studio.
As a client you can expect the following processes -

Sample Development Process.
- Strategic meeting
- Initial Design development
- Sample specifications
- Place order for patterns/Samples

Click here to download The Fashion Studio Lookbook

We raise the following paperwork:-
- Progress Sheet
- Docket
- Time Sheet
- Costing sheets
- Size charts
- Fitting Logs
- Agreement of appropriate fit mannequin (The Fashion Studio has a choice of 8 fit mannequins from Alvanon)
- White Production board updated
- Blue Production board updated

Estimated lead times :-
-Initial pattern work – approx 5 working days
- Cutting - 2 working days
- Stitching 1st toiles – approx 5 working days depending on Current work loads and production planning
- Amendments made – 5 working days(depending on work load and collection size)
- Cutting - 2 working days (depending on work load and collection size)
- Stitching 2nd toile/samples – 5 weeks (depending on work load and collection size)

First Fitting -- sealing**invoice point
Here we address any amendments or changes wanted to the design at this stage, change any finishings and check fit. Sometimes on simple garments the amendments are so minor it is possible to go straight into a final sealing sample. Not all garments in a collection will develop at the same speed depending on complexity of design and clients requirements

2nd Fitting green seal**invoice point
Here we review the expected final toile which will act as our Green Seal for production . There may be further minor amendment and this is perfectly acceptable. If a client has changed her requirement on design at this stage then (next stage estimates of price are given. One common problem is that designers believe that one pattern will work on a cross section of fabrics. This is not correct. Different fabrics have different properties and that requires pattern amends..)

Once the Green Seal is approved a docket is raised and agreed by client and production prices are then confirmed.

Cutting

The docket is an instruction to cut and this document has the fabric consumption clearly confirmed with the unit price per garment.)

Production or Showman Sample

This is when the garments are fully made and process. Clients are encouraged to review work in progress. Final Fitting A full garment inspection is encouraged by the client. Stock is to be paid for after inspection and before delivery. If required the Fashion Studio will create a Gold or Black seal. This seal should mirror exactly the Green Seal unless amends were requested by the client. We work on a CMT basis i.e. we do not buy fabric or trims this is your responsibility.

Grading
Once the green seal is approved we can then instigate grading on the requested sizes. We have a Vetigraph system which enables grading to take place in house. This also estimates fabric consumption. Grade rules have to apply and this is at the discretion of the client. It is normal for a 5 cm grade rule to apply on bust, waist and hips

Pressing and 100% inspection
We work to very high standards. and we undertake in work checks in production as well as 100% inspection reviews. Quality Reports are undertaken for every production line we operate and again are open for review. We are also SEDEX approved which is a high benchmark of quality service and systems.

Time Lines
Approx 10 weeks should be allowed for a collection of around 6/8 designs to be fully developed from strategic meeting and idea generation into final samples. This time is an approx turn around time, not an estimate for invoice times.

Pricing
For pricing estimates please email thefashionstudio@fashion-enter.com.

We work totally transparently and you will be informed every step of the way of predictive costs. The price includes consultation, administration and fitting session times. We recommend that you are organised and prepared for meetings to avoid unnecessary time and therefore costs. All costings are open for review.

We are a not for profit social enterprise and therefore our aim is to cover our costs only helping to ensure your business is a success.

For additional information contact thefashionstudio@fashion-enter.com or telephone 0208 809 3311.

The Fashion Studio
Unit 4, 13 & 14, Crusader Estate
167 Hermitage Road
N4 1LZ

Directions: Nearest tube is Manor House on the Piccadilly Line. Please use exit 7, Green Lanes (North East Side). Walk time is approx 7 minutes from the tube. Alternatively, the nearest overground is Haringey Green Lanes. The 29 bus will also take you to Green Lanes. Car parking facilities are available.

Pattern-making and Short-run Production enquiries - thefashionstudio@fashioncapital.co.uk
Membership enquiries - memberships@fashioncapital.co.uk