New fashion manufacturing hub appoints studio manager

By

Barbara Santamaria

Published
May 28, 2018

Makers HQ, a new manufacturing initiative in Plymouth that aims to provide sampling facilities to the fashion industry and emerging designers, has appointed Sophie Glover to the role of studio manager.

With the aim of reinvigorating fashion manufacture in the South West and with a strong focus on sustainable and ethical fashion, the project was announced by Plymouth College of Art and Millfields Trust earlier this year.

Glover will use her experience as a former senior technologist at Topshop and head of the technical department at Asos to help establish the sampling unit and training facility, and develop Makers HQ into a community where emerging designers and brands can access cut, make and trim services.

As head of the technical department at Asos, Glover managed around 30 garment technologists and 60 people from the quality control department. She has also been head of garment technology at Finery London and worked for brands including Gap and M&S.

“My intention for Makers HQ is that we’re going to offer a commercially-viable, functioning sampling unit, alongside education and training facilities that can help to reinvigorate the fashion industry in the South West,” she said.

“My first priority will be to make a success of the sampling unit, which at its simplest level is here to support anybody interested in starting their own clothing brand. To do that you’d need a range of samples to take out to wholesalers and show to clients, essentially to allow them to make a choice about whether to stock your collection or not. And we’ll help to create those samples.

“More than anything, I want the local community to know that Makers HQ is now a resource for them to use, and that we’re here to support the growth of their businesses.”

Plymouth has a rich heritage in fashion and textile manufacturing, however its community of skilled workers took a hit when Jaeger closed its factory in 1998. A large number of those workers still reside in the area, and the new project will try to re-establish the city’s links to the fashion industry.