Elena Faccioli, a second year student on the BA Fashion Design course at the University of Bolton, undertook a paid internship at Blackburn-based clothing manufacturer Cookson & Clegg, with support from UKFT’s MADE IT programme.

Elena Faccioli said: “Thanks to UKFT I had the opportunity to start my little working adventure at Cookson & Clegg in Blackburn. This training experience, which opened my eyes to how the fashion industry works, made me more aware of the various process steps for creating clothes from A to Z. I was lucky enough to be part of this rare reality which includes the conception of the garment, with consequent creation of a mood board and creation of a tech pack explaining all the details, design of the paper pattern, beginning of the various samples with consequent approval for the final design to be sent into production.

“Most of the production is commissioned by Community Clothing, a brand that supports the local community by boasting of making 100% of its clothes in the UK. Another plus point is the conscious use of fabrics, most of which are natural and checked.

“In fact, my goal was to deepen my knowledge in the field of sustainability by learning tricks and skills that are not usually taught at university.”

Elena Faccioli

During the internship, Elena:

• Visited the company’s archive of garments
• Created technical drawings for tech packs including creating paper patterns for samples and cutting fabric
• Took part in a photoshoot for a product launch

Jenny McArdle, Community Clothing, said: “Programmes like MADE IT add value to our business by introducing us to some young talented people who are passionate about getting into the clothing industry.  We get a chance to see what skills are being taught in places of education. It’s great to see the textile industry being championed and giving people the opportunity to learn and get a real insight into how a clothing company works.”

Elena said she was “very satisfied” with her experience and was “treated like family right from the start”. She said during her time with the company she was able to learn lessons that she couldn’t in a different type of environment.

“Cookson & Clegg is a unique and very renowned company in the UK, and I feel very lucky to have been taught by their team,” she added.

About MADE IT

Five university design students have undertaken paid internships at UK fashion and textile businesses including Cookson & Clegg, Nosakhari, London Contour Experts, LLUK and Toogood, as part of UKFT’s MADE IT scheme.

Students have been selected from the four participating universities on this year’s MADE IT programme: the University of Bolton, the University of Westminster, Manchester Metropolitan University and Buckinghamshire New University.

UKFT held a production and sourcing masterclass for fashion and textile design students at each university to promote the importance of production and sourcing within a rounded fashion education and to highlight the breadth of job opportunities across the supply chain. The sessions also highlighted the rich manufacturing expertise and specialisms within the UK.

Following the masterclasses, students took part in a production-focused project and UKFT selected winners to undertake the two-month internship scheme.

Supporting UK manufacturing

UKFT’s MADE IT campaign is generously supported by The Clothworkers’ Company and CapitB. It is part of UKFT’s broader aim of supporting the future of the UK manufacturing sector, which includes running projects to support growth and innovation, promoting and matchmaking businesses and ensuring that the next generation of skilled people entering the sector are being trained to the highest level.

UKFT MADE IT