On 4th March 2026, Leicester’s creative fashion community came together for a Designer Drop-In Day at the city’s Fashion Hub, an informal networking event designed to connect designers, entrepreneurs, and industry experts.
Hosted at Fashion Hub, Phoenix House, 1 King Street, from 2–6pm, the event was organised in partnership with the Apparel and Textile Manufacturers Federation (ATMF) and supported by LCB Depot. The open-door format welcomed everyone—from emerging start-ups to established creative entrepreneurs—offering a relaxed environment to share ideas and explore opportunities within Leicester’s fashion manufacturing sector.
Meet the Experts and Explore the Hub
Visitors had the chance to meet Jenny Holloway, CEO of Fashion-Enter Ltd and Chair of ATMF, tour the fully equipped sampling and production facility, and learn how the Fashion Hub supports designers in creating high-quality samples before scaling into bulk production.
Attendees could drop in for a brief 20-minute visit or stay for the entire afternoon, enjoying coffee, chocolate biscuits, and engaging conversation with peers and industry professionals.
The event exceeded expectations, attracting designers from across the UK. My Little Madam Limited even travelled from Wales, staying overnight in Leicester to meet the city’s renowned fabric suppliers.
Mentorship and Industry Support
Industry professionals generously offered their time and expertise. Anne Foxley-Green, who travelled from Peterborough with her husband, supported start-up and scale-up designers, while designer Millie Fullalove demonstrated her skill on the twin-needle machine and mentored emerging creatives.
The afternoon highlighted the strength of Leicester’s collaborative fashion community, bringing together like-minded creatives to exchange knowledge, build networks, and support one another’s growth.
Looking Ahead
Special thanks were extended to LCB Depot and James Burkmar for helping launch these designer networking sessions. More events are planned following the launch of Canopy next week, in partnership with Leicester City Council.
Fashion Hub at Phoenix House continues to welcome designers seeking access to professional industrial equipment and UK-based sampling and production support.
For more information on using the Leicester Fashion Hub facilities, designers can contact [email protected].