ImagesMagUK_February_2022

INDUSTRY NEWS www.images-magazine.com 14 images FEBRUARY 2022 Check out our Instagram Stories for the latest industry news @imagesmaguk Want to know what your industry colleagues really think of the garments and accessories they decorate? Each issue, one reader tells us why they rate a particular product Morgan Highfield, marketing and sales assistant at Qwikfast Clothing & Workwear – Embroidery & Printing, says the company’s current favourite garment to decorate is the Original Cuffed Beanie (B45) from Beechfield. “We recommend this beanie for its quality, comfort and because it comes in a massive choice of colours – 53! “They frame up and embroider with ease, looking and feeling high quality every time.” Whether worn in or outside of work, the B45 is suitable for any business, adds Morgan. “For a lot of people, headwear is essential in the colder months, so having a business logo on your beanie is a great walking advertisement. “Our customer Copper Street Brewery decided on French navy because of its contrast against their copper logo. To compliment its name, we suggested using KingStar Aluminium MA 2 copper thread for embroidery, which they agreed to.” Morgan’s top tip for decorating the Original Cuffed Beanie is to turn it inside out before framing it for embroidery. “This saves you having to turn the artwork upside down on your embroidery machine. Once you’ve tried this once, you’ll be embroidering all of your Beechfield beanies this way!” imagesmag.uk/feb22-readers- choice www.qfclothing.co.uk READERS’ CHOICE Embroidered Beechfield B45 beanies for Copper Street Brewery Academy opens in Leicester to train garment workers A new academy has opened in Leicester to train people up to work in the garment industry. Leicester City Council has invested £300,000 to help develop the new Fashion Technology Academy (Leicester), teaming up with training provider Fashion-Enter. The academy will offer apprenticeships and accredited training for people who work in, or want to work in, the textiles industry, including garment decoration. Current courses, such as stitching and production skills, are free to people who are unemployed. Apprenticeships at various levels are available to employers. Leicester’s deputy city mayor, councillor Adam Clarke, said: “Leicester has the second largest concentration of textiles and fashion businesses in the UK, so this is a hugely important industry to our local economy, and it is one we are determined to support. “Creating a highly-skilled and specialist workforce is an important and crucial step in creating workplaces where staff are valued, leading to higher standards of workplace compliance.” The first Fashion Technology Academy opened in Haringey in north London in 2015, followed by a second in Islington in September 2021. A fourth is due to open in Newtown in Powys in Mid Wales in January 2022. imagesmag.uk/leicester-academy Machinists demonstrating their skills at the launch of the new Fashion Technology Academy in Leicester P&P Live! postponed to April due to Covid This year’s Printwear & Promotion Live! has been postponed from February until April due to ongoing uncertainty about Covid-19. The exhibition for garment decorators will now take place at the NEC in Birmingham from Sunday April 24 to Tuesday April 26. The change in dates also means a switch to Hall 12. Event director Tony Gardner said in January: “Although no further restrictions have come into place that affect the show taking place in February, following conversations with a large number of exhibitors regarding the ongoing uncertainties in the UK, particularly the potential logistical issues caused by Omicron, we have looked at the options of postponing the show. Consequently, with the support of the NEC, we have been able to push the show back by two months.” If you have already registered for the event in February, you do not need to register again. Visitor registration remains open. imagesmag.uk/pandp-postpone