International Women’s Day 2025: Jacqueline Farrell, Education Director at The King’s Foundation
06/03/2025
This International Women’s Day, we’d like to celebrate Jacqueline Farrell, Education Director at The King’s Foundation, for her work championing the Modern Artisan Project with Yoox Net-a-Porter, training students from the UK and Italy in sustainable fashion design and manufacturing.
Jacqueline has worked in the fashion industry for over 30 years, initially as a designer maker and then in the education space. Her focus on education has been on ensuring individuals can develop creatively and have the confidence to thrive. Her role as Education Director at The King’s Foundation has allowed her to understand and expand the connections and value between traditional approaches to fashion, craft, science and the natural world intersect.
She led on the Modern Artisan, a collaboration with YOOX NET A PORTER project, an innovative project marrying data insights and craftsmanship with education and industry working hand in hand. The traceability and digital ID implemented in Edition 1 is becoming standardized and the fully traceable local production in Edition 3 using fleece from the herd at Dumfries House and natural dyes demonstrates that luxury made locally is possible. 75% of alumni were female. All share the Royal Founding President, His Majesty’s the King’s vision, to make a positive difference as advocates for nature led change.
Jacqueline said:
“Having been involved in the fashion industry for over three decades now and watched things come full circle, it is great to see once again a recognition of the value of local high-level skills and traceable natural fibres. I have taught many students over the years in my past roles that have gone on to make a difference to how the fashion industry works. It has been wonderful to be part of the Modern Artisan programme, delivered by an amazing team of women bringing a much-needed focus on skills, people and planet.”
Thank you Jacqueline!
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UKFT’s focus on Skills and Training
As the Government appointed Sector Skills Body (SSB) for fashion and textiles, UKFT works to address critical skills gaps and develop industry-led solutions. We help to elevate the skills of the UK fashion and textile industry to maintain its competitive position globally.
We bring together education and industry to respond to current and future workforce requirements. We develop new vocational and academic routes that meet the needs of business and promote careers and opportunities to the next generation.
We help fashion and textile businesses to attract, train and retain the best.