Ellen Fitzsimmons
Ellen Fitzsimmons was born and grew up in King's Cross, London. She spent many years living in Ibiza, Spain, making and selling her own clothes on the markets. Originally a student, Ellen has taught sewing at Silai since 2003.
"I used to be a punk, I've always been into different kinds of fashion that you couldn't actually get on the high street. I love fashion, I love clothes, I really do love it. So that's what I've developed over the years, just wanting to get something to my own taste, I've always dabbled, most of it was customising clothes. I went to Ibiza for 6 years. I worked on the hippy market scene out there and made bits and pieces to sell. I worked for English ex-pats cleaning and looking after kids. And it was just fabulous. I left 'cause I wanted to come back and learn how to make clothes, I wanted to learn how to get the proper skills, cause I'd always taught myself to make clothes. That's what I wanted to do out there, so that's why I came back and that probably links into how I came to know Silai.
I finally contacted them and they were over in Easton doing courses, I was with them for many years as a student, you know I just did every course at every level, I could possibly do. The community the sense of belonging, I did feel like I belonged and really felt that what Silai preaches, to be a support, to be there for women's progress, I really felt that's what they were doing. I am living proof of it. Being a student and then tutor assistant, then tutor. I was supported very much through that progression, and encouraged, it's a pretty amazing, unique place."
