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What is The Sew-East Programme?

Sew-East is an innovative programme of targeted support to help exploit the niche opportunity that has emerged here in the East End over the last few years for the clothing and leather industries.

Over the past two years with financial support from
the SBS Phoenix Development Fund and European
Development Fund, EMEP has put together an
intensive plan of support and counselling for designers
and manufacturers entitled ‘Bringing Design Into
Manufacturing’ which has worked to educate local
designers and manufacturers into working in close
collaborations. The Sew-East Programme will build
upon some of the pilot work already carried out under
the BDIM programme. Examples of this are as follows:

  • Eastside Story – a Bi-annual event to showcase local designers and their collections to wider audiences e.g. Industry specialists and buyers from department stores and boutiques. Established by EMEP, David Jones Fashion Management Consultancy and Claire Hunte of W65 Marketing and Management.


  • The Eastside Designers Forum – A forum, which has been established by EMEP, David Jones Fashion Management Consultancy and Claire Hunte of W65 Marketing and Management over the last two years providing a platform for discussions, debates and cross referencing of ideas and initiatives. The forums will continue under the new collaboration with HBV Enterprise, Hackney’s only accredited DTI approved Enterprise Agency.

  • Design Collaboration Project – Local designers and manufacturers are paired together to form a partnership. Working closely together to create designs and samples to market test to existing and new buyers.

The Sew-East project will build upon these strengths by making sure that the maximum number of designers benefit from the 'Fashion East' event as well as other trade shows and exhibitions.

 

It is a quality driven supply chain that needs to be achieved here for the sector to achieve long-term sustainability. EMEP have already worked with local manufacturers to secure corporate orders for local manufacturers.