Ambitious textiles school founder celebrates successful three years in Northampton and finding dedicated space
The ambitious founder of a fashion and textiles school is celebrating the business’ first three successful years in Northampton, and achieving her aim of opening her own space.
Jamie-Lee Lothian set up the Northants Fashion and Textiles School in the summer of 2023, with the hope of encouraging young creatives to pursue alternative avenues.
The classes operate on a term-by-term basis and parents book their children in one term at a time to give them the chance to work on one project throughout the duration, including the designing, developing and making.
The award-winning Northants Fashion & Textiles School celebrated its third anniversary in August, and Jamie-Lee has achieved her goal of having a dedicated studio space. It is now based at Northampton Business Centre, which is shared with Jamie-Lee’s new venture Dyslexia Blossoms.
The studio provides the space for Jamie-Lee’s fashion and textile classes, while also having a dedicated office for Dyslexia Blossoms, and this huge milestone means she can finally grow the businesses in the way she envisioned.
Launched in July, Dyslexia Blossoms is a cognition and learning support business working with schools, organisations and families. Jamie-Lee offers full dyslexia diagnostic assessments and reports, cognitive profiles, pupil observations and wider support around cognition and learning.
This new venture brings together Jamie-Lee’s professional experience and qualifications in education, SEND and dyslexia assessment, and it is a really exciting new chapter.
“The next stage was to have a permanent space of our own and I’m so proud I’ve achieved that,” Jamie-Lee told the Chronicle & Echo. “It’s a massive milestone for the businesses and it’s a space for the children to come in, create and learn.
“It is a safe and creative space for children and young people to develop their skills, make friends and grow their confidence in small, nurturing groups and it’s a personal experience. It’s always project-based for a whole term and this gives them time to take real ownership.”
Northants Fashion and Textiles School is praised for being calming and nurturing, and the fact it celebrates that everyone’s outcomes on the same project are different.
Jamie-Lee had been searching for the perfect space for two years and she described the moment she got the keys in May as “surreal”. It has only been met with positive feedback by students and parents alike, and it is nice that everything now has a home rather than having to be packed away at the end of each session at the previous rented location.
“My new business supports adults, children and young people struggling with aspects of learning,” said Jamie-Lee. “It helps them understand how they learn, their strengths and strategies to use. It’s about how they learn best and helping them flourish.
“This was a really natural next step and the two businesses look very different on the surface, but they’re both about building confidence and helping people realise what they are capable of if they learn differently. It’s about discovering something they are good at and creating something they are proud of.”
Looking to the future, Jamie-Lee is passionate about working with the local council and schools to expand the reach of her vital work, especially now she has a dedicated hub to welcome the community to.