UKFT and The Drapers’ Company have worked alongside to support students across the UK via the Drapers’ x UKFT Bursary Programme. The scheme offers students the opportunity to access good quality internships in the fashion and textile industry. Intended to benefit individuals who might otherwise struggle to afford internships away from home, the bursary provides financial support for a maximum of three months. Click here for further information.

Melissa Haram is a 2d Year BA/BSC Textile Practice student at the University of Huddersfield. She was one of the 10 students to receive a 12-week funded internship as part of the Drapers’ x UKFT Bursary Scheme for the academic year 2021/22.

Melissa undertook her placement with Skopos Fabrics, a supplier of flame-retardant contract fabrics based in Dewsbury, West Yorkshire. Skopos Fabrics works across a wide range of sectors, including the hotel, office, education, cruise and healthcare industries. Melissa considerably grew her skillset during her time at Skopos Fabrics:

“My time at Skopos Fabrics has been invaluable and I feel very fortunate to have been given the opportunity to work for them for 11 months. The contract fabric industry is new to me, so I have learnt a lot already including trend and colour research, design processes, AVA, fabric printing, scientific testing, and marketing.

I have experienced creating scheme boards for clients, participated in meetings with suppliers and even given the opportunity to create my own design which was interesting to follow the process from AVA to fabric.”

As Skopos Fabrics specialised in contract textiles with fabrics, curtains, bedding and upholstery fabrics for commercial interiors, this internship introduced Melissa to the contract industry:

“Gaining experience in the contract fabric industry has opened my eyes to the many other opportunities available in the textile industry that I wasn’t aware of before working at Skopos Fabrics. I will now consider the contract industry including, cruise, hospitality, care, and education as industries to design for in my final year of study as this is something I have never previously explored.”

For Melissa, this experience confirmed her decision to follow a path into the textile industry:

“Gaining this experience in the industry has taught me many new skills and increased my knowledge in the field of textiles but has also confirmed that textile design is the industry I want to work in. I am very grateful for the opportunity Skopos has given me and the support UKFT has provided me with.”

The UK Fashion and Textile Association is launching a new platform: UKFT Futures, a website all about careers across the fashion and textile industry.

Launching on 3rd April, UKFT Futures will be a place to explore the UK Fashion and Textile Industry, inviting users to Get Inspired, Get Informed and Get Involved.

Sign up now by visiting:

UKFT FUTURES