ELITE Clothing Solutions, an award-winning Welsh social enterprise supporting disabled and disadvantaged people into work, brought its manufacturing expertise from the Valleys to the London catwalk after being selected by Cardiff-based artist and designer Adeola to produce bespoke trousers for her Africa Fashion Week show in London.
Adeola is the founder of Add an Apron, a slow fashion brand founded and based in Cardiff since 2024. To create the trousers to go with her Africa-inspired organic cotton hand painted aprons, she reached out to ELITE Clothing Solutions in Ebbw Vale, as she wanted to work with companies that have social values at their core.
Chris Morant, Enterprise Manager at ELITE Clothing Solutions, said: “Adeola wanted to work with local organisations and we were delighted to support her. She sent through initial designs, and we collaborated throughout the creative process to bring them to life including what fabric would be best to showcase her designs best but also to be environmentally friendly.”
ELITE machinists Michelle and Lisa then created 10 pairs of trousers, each sized to a catwalk model, which will hopefully go into production following the catwalk show.
Adeola said: “I’m based in Cardiff and while there are a lot of manufacturers in England, I wanted my creations to be as local as possible. With ELITE there was an added bonus of it being a social enterprise which aligned with my ethos.
“The ELITE team are amazing; they’re like a little family. They were so welcoming and patient and held my hand through the process. We were in constant contact.
“I’m pleased with the final looks. The pieces looked really good on the runway.”
ELITE Clothing Solutions is one of three social enterprises operated by charity ELITE Supported Employment and been working with Transport for Wales since 2023 to produce everything from aprons to shirts, jumpers, t-shirts, and polo shirts. In 2025, ELITE became part of Fedcap, a global nonprofit focused on sustainable employment for individuals with barriers.
Christine McMahon, President and CEO of Fedcap, said: “We are incredibly proud to see ELITE Clothing Solutions’ work showcased at Africa Fashion Week in London and to celebrate the talent and craftsmanship of the team. This collaboration is also part of something much bigger. Across Fedcap, our organisations such as Runway of Dreams are helping to build a stronger adaptive fashion ecosystem – bringing together designers, manufacturers, employers, and people with disabilities to expand opportunity, challenge convention and create clothing that better reflects the needs of everyone.”
