Tailoring Academy graduates breathe new life into the trade
16/08/2021
Four graduates of the Tailoring Academy in Macclesfield have secured promising roles in tailoring, while others are set to launch their own businesses in the industry.
Connie Mitchell at the Tailoring Academy is joining Carl Stuart
Eve Meyer, Connie Mitchell and Andy Thorpe are set to join Carl Stuart Bespoke Tailors & Suits, while former student Megan Good will join the Tailoring Academy to assist in future training delivery.
Andy Thorpe at the Tailoring Academy is joining Carl Stuart
Carl Stuart is a men’s tailoring business founded in 1963, which is about to launch womenswear. It has two retail stores in Yorkshire, in Ossett and Huddersfield, as well as a factory which employs 33 people in Ossett.
Carl Stuart
Emily White of Carl Stuart, said: “A lot of people in the tailoring industry and our business have been in the trade for multiple decades so we are really excited about these new hires learning from them.”
Eve Meyer at the Tailoring Academy is also joining Carl Stuart
“What we liked about the students from the Tailoring Academy was they all came in with an open mind and clear aptitude for learning,” explained Emily. “I think the thing that attracted them to come and work at Carl Stuart is that we care deeply about career progression within the organisation and we’re flexible about what motivates people. Our business is growing and we’re continuing to hire from here.”
Carl Stuart
Master Tailor Brita Hirsch founded the Tailoring Academy in 2018, with support from UKFT and the CapitB Trust, in response to the lack of high standard tailoring training outside of London.
Brita Hirsch at the Tailoring Academy
The crisis surrounding coronavirus came as a real blow, as Brita explained: “Practical skills delivery is face-to-face by nature and heritage tailoring skills are what our students are joining us for.”
In response, the academy completely remodelled its workspace last year to provide eight students on the ABC Level 5 Diploma in Bespoke Tailoring course with ample space to focus on each individual’s learning, as well as state of the art equipment and tools.
Alan Cannon Jones, an industry-renowned tailor and internal verifier for the course, said: “These students have really enjoyed the course and embraced the challenges not only of Tailoring but also those of teaching and learning during the Covid pandemic. There are wonderful examples of motivation and support from both the tutors and the peer group.
“Tailoring is one of those skill sets that has to be classically taught and this course does just that. You have to learn the skills before you can bend, break and develop them to be more creative. These students have acquired the skills to move forward now onto their chosen career paths.
“The support from the trade, in particular Dugdale’s, with quality fabrics, interlinings and supporting information in relation to textiles shows the strong links to industry that have been formed. The course delivers not only the skills but also a fuller and broader understanding of the tailoring trade and it’s supporting industries.”
Former student Megan Good is now joining the Tailoring Academy to assist in future delivery
Brita said the course focuses on teaching the whole skillset of tailoring, as well as being able to cut for both the male and female figure. Students on the course come from a wide range of backgrounds, with some having experience in tailoring or fashion, and others being complete beginners with a real passion and interest in the craft.
“This is a real success story in helping secure the next generation of skilled tailors and helping our students find careers in the industry,” said Brita.
The Tailoring Academy is also set to move to a bigger studio in Macclesfield as demand continues to grow for its blend of heritage skills and contemporary craftsmanship.
“We are blown away by the interest we are already receiving for our next course starting in September 2021 – learning a tangible skill is in more demand than ever before,” said Brita.