Delivering a new sector vision for the fashion sector

Image shows our CEO Tamara Cincik hosting a roundtable discussion at the Design Museum. Credit: Steve Watson.

Fashion Roundtable has met with industry leaders from the fashion sector who outlined the dire need for urgent action for the British fashion sector, which was at one time the fastest growing creative industry in the United Kingdom. 

We have also engaged stakeholders in a Snap Survey aimed at including voices throughout the sector from design through to distribution, academia, retail, creative, manufacturing, business and NGOs. 

This data has provided a strong overview of the current landscape for UK-based manufacturers and the key challenges and proposed solutions to support the sector to lead on sustainability, social justice, increased social mobility for working-class children, and increased revenue for UK GDP. 

The purpose of this data catch is to compile our key recommendations for the creative and fashion sector in the form of a manifesto which we will be launching as a sector vision in Parliament on the 22nd February in our capacity as secretariat of the Ethics and Sustainability in Fashion APPG. This is by invitation only, but please do get in touch if you’d like to attend - admin@fashionroundtable.co.uk

Recommendations

Fashion Roundtable has identified a myriad of recommendations, which are proposed to be looked at in greater detail. Please get in touch if you would like to shape these in any way.

In conversation with Clare Press at Bath Spa University

Image shows Clare Press in a pink dress, sitting at a table.

Some of you may know Clare Press as the bestselling author of the Wardrobe Crisis, or the presenter of the much-loved podcast of the same name. Others remember her as the first ever VOGUE Sustainability Editor for Vogue Australia back in 2018. To us, Clare is best-known as our vibrant and seriously knowledgeable Global Sustainability Expert.

This January, her latest book, Wear Next, Fashioning the Future has finally hit UK book stores and what a book it is!

To celebrate we are hosting Clare’s UK book launch at the Conduit later this month which is open to members.

We are also hosting an evening with Clare in collaboration with the National Centre for Fashion and Sustainability at Bath Spa University on Tuesday 20th February at 5:30pm.

Clare will be interviewed on stage about her new book by Professor Tamara Cincik.

This will be followed by an audience Q&A, book signing and drinks and snacks.

Spaces are free but limited, so please book a place by purchasing a free ticket below.

Spotted in Elle: Our Fashion Director - Karen Binns

Photo shows Karen Binns spread in Elle magazine.

Our fashion director, Karen Binns features in this month’s Elle magazine. Her life in fashion is vibrant, bold and legendary. Make sure to get your copy of Elle this month and read more!

If you’re not already, make sure to give Karen a follow on instagram.

The Lilac Review: Victoria Jenkins to level-up disabled entrepreneurship

This is an image of Victoria Jenkins, wearing a royal blue power suit, standing in the street, with a sparkly mobility aid. Credit: Deb Burrows.

Victoria Jenkins co-chairs our Representation and Inclusion Committee and is a leading voice for disability inclusion. She is behind the sustainable adaptive fashion brand Unhidden and was listed as one of Vogue’s Top 25 Powerhouse Women redefining Britain and co-presents and designs on Channel 4’s Unique Boutique.

To add to these accolades, Victoria was named earlier this month as co-chair of a major new independent review, backed by the UK government, tasked with addressing the inequalities faced by disabled-led businesses.

‘The Lilac Review’ will commence for an initial two-year period, with Victoria co-chairing alongside the Minister for Small Business, Kevin Hollinrake and the Minister for Disabled People, Mims Davies. 

As our discussions with Victoria over the years have revealed, the contribution of the disabled community is much higher than policy makers are aware of. In fact data suggests that disabled entrepreneurs currently account for an estimated 25% of the nation’s 5.5 million small businesses, but represent only 8.6% of total small business turnover. Small Business Britain estimates suggest that levelling up opportunity could unlock an additional £230 billion in business turnover.

Victoria Jenkins said:

“To be able to help remove some, or all of, the barriers that are impacting us is a lifelong mission of mine and so many others. We are also worth more than what we can, or can't, contribute from a financial respect and I hope to highlight that as well over the next two years, alongside powerful and important voices in the community.”

The Lilac Review features a further number of prominent disabled founders on its Steering Board such as Martyn Sibley, founder of Purple Goat Agency, Accomable (sold to Airbnb) and Disability Horizons magazine.

The need for The Lilac Review was highlighted by the ‘Disability and Entrepreneurship report’, launched by Small Business Britain in April 2023 in partnership with Lloyds Bank. 

Consulting over 500 disabled founders across the country – in one of the largest studies of its kind in the UK – the report found disabled entrepreneurs face significant barriers to start and grow businesses, such as higher start-up costs, challenges accessing funding and support, as well as a lack of credit by wider society.  

Kevin Hollinrake MP, Minister for Small Business and Co-Chair of The Lilac Review said: 

“We are committed to ensuring the UK is best place in the world for anyone who wants to start and scale up a business. 

“That’s why I am delighted to co-chair the Lilac Review to support the UK’s disabled entrepreneurs so they can follow their passion and create their own success story, without restrictions or barriers.”

The Lilac Review will share interim research findings later this year, with a final report and recommendations set for the end of 2025. Issuing an action plan to drive greater change across entrepreneurship it will call for organisations across the UK to commit to a series of goals.

For more information visit www.lilacreview.com 

Why boutique owner Amanda Slattery has called it quits after 18 years in the fashion sector

Image shows owner Amanda Slattery in her store, Maya Maya

Amanda Slattery owns Destination Maya Maya, an independent womenswear fashion boutique in Kendal. She has been in the fashion business for 18 years, yet this year will mark her last year in bricks and mortar retail. During this time as a small business owner, Amanda has manoeuvred and endured her way through recessions, the ‘near’ death of the high street, a pandemic and Brexit.

What follows is a candid conversation about why Amanda is leaving the industry on her terms and what lies ahead.

You've been in business for 18 years, why are you leaving?

After 18 years in business, 2024 will be my last year in bricks and mortar retail. I used to enjoy it and now I realise that I am simply enduring it. I have successfully manoeuvred my way through and around recessions, storms, flooding, the ’near’ death of the high street, a pandemic and Brexit. I am proud of my achievements and proud that I am leaving the industry on my terms.

I guess back in 2006 I hadn’t expected to be having to deal with and understand the issues that arrived with Brexit – rules of origin of a product, additional customs and duties and up-front VAT payments – a killer for independent businesses cash flow. This became the norm and we all had to learn to ask our suppliers the question ‘are these landed prices’?

What shocks me most about this industry is the lack of forward planning, for an industry that works on forward orders, it doesn’t seem to focus on anything other than, next season! For several years I have wondered and asked, who are the fashion retailers of the future, who will the forward-order buyers be? The next generation of buyers seem, in the main, to be fast fashion or recycle focus. It's easy to see the average age of forward-order buyers at trade shows, it isn’t getting any younger.