New Fashion Academy

Fashion and Textile Museum (FTM) is redeveloped and home to a new Academy to provide education and professional development within the fashion, textile and jewellery sectors. Martin Tolhurst, Principal of Newham College, which now owns and manages the FTM said: 'The fashion business can be a tough environment in which to flourish and yet the creative industries are vital to the UK economy. However, until now there has been no one place where education, learning and industry support has come together.

The Academy will be open to all who want to broaden their skills in the fashion industries, from those looking for full-time courses, short professional courses or more tailored for businesses. Next to offering education and training, the Academy will work in partnership with industry bodies such as Skillfast-UK and the Creative and Cultural Industries Sector Skills Councils as well as individual companies to design and deliver high quality apprenticeship programmes.

As well as the new Academy, FTM is developing a programme of changing exhibitions exploring elements of contemporary fashion, style and couture. The FTM's first exhibition is being staged in collaboration with the Getty Images Gallery. Peacocks and Pinstripes A Snapshot of Masculine Style, will zoom in on men's fashion and will run from February to May 2008.