New awards target “back-room” design staff

UK-based professional pattern-cutters, garment technologists and sample-makers are being urged to take part in a UK-wide campaign to identify the top 50 skilled people in the fashion and textiles industry.

The “Behind the Seams” campaign has been launched by Skillfast-UK, the Sector Skills Council for fashion and textiles, to draw attention to the unsung heroes of the fashion and textiles trade, whose creative talents, technical ability and time-served craftsmanship go into producing successful businesses and international brands.

Skillfast-UK is also hoping that the campaign will highlight the need to recruit and train a minimum of 40,000 new employees over the next five years, to replace those leaving through retirement.

Speaking at the launch of the campaign, Linda Florance, chief executive of Skillfast-UK, said:

“There are 79,000 fashion and textiles enterprises in the UK, and they create some exceptional creative designs. But creativity needs to go hand in hand with technical ability, and all too often the “back-room” staff members go unrecognised. Behind the Seams will celebrate the skilled individuals who are the backbone of our sector, and we will use the results of the campaign to lobby politicians for more support to develop the skills of the next generation of employees.”

UK-based design agencies can nominate a technically-skilled employee for a Behind the Seams Award online, at skillfast-uk.org/bts where they will be asked to explain, in a hundred words, why their employee is a hidden hero when it comes to skills. Freelance pattern-cutters, garment technologists and sample-makers are urged to nominate themselves for their moment in the limelight.

The top 50 nominees UK-wide will be invited to receive their Award at a major event in London on 11th November, attended by key politicians and fashion figures.

Linda Florance said:

“There are many awards aimed at those at the beginning of their career, or in the headline roles, but not so many chances for public recognition when you are working in the support team. It will be great to see some of our technical specialists celebrated for their achievements.”