The Classic Car Boot Sale Celebrates 10 Years at King’s Cross
PLUS: WRAP's latest report and shop Sophie Ellis-Bextor's pre-loved fashion pieces
The UK’s leading vintage event, The Classic Car Boot Sale, will return to King’s Cross on Saturday 26th and Sunday 27th April 2025, marking a decade of vintage celebrations at this iconic location.
Bringing a curated mix of vintage fashion, classic cars and sustainable shopping, the event will once again take over Granary Square, Lewis Cubitt Square and Coal Drops Yard for two full days of retro-inspired fun.
Alongside quality sustainable shopping, stunning classic cars and top-notch entertainment, new for 2025 is the Pinball & Arcade Alley. Curated by Pinball Geoff, star of BBC’s The Repair Shop, Pinball and Arcade Alley brings the thrill and nostalgia of a classic fairground to life. Visitors can try their luck play vintage Penny Arcade machines, pinball machines and more.
This is the capital’s largest public fashion event with great people-watching opportunities as visitors arrive in their best threads from their favourite decades to shop from over 100 carefully curated vintage and designer second hand sellers. Visitors can admire all the brilliantly designed classic vehicles from the 1920s to the 1990s, as well as custom bicycles and the highly anticipated ride-ins from mods and rockers. Come and meet friends and enjoy delicious street food and drinks from the Routemaster Bus Bar, while dancing the day away to the live vinyl-spinning DJs.
Re-visit our conversation with the curator of this fantastic event, Wayne Hemingway MBE, where he discusses the Classic Car Boot Sale, fashion and much more with our CEO Tamara Cincik.
WRAP Report: Displacement Rates Untangled
Since 2012, WRAP has been working with the textiles sector to reduce its environmental impact. Despite impressive reductions in emissions per tonne of clothing and home textiles placed on the UK market, overall, the environmental impact of the clothing we buy has remained mostly constant because of increases in the amount of clothing produced.
WRAP introduced a methodology to help businesses calculate displacement rates - the rate at which buying, renting, or repairing an item through a circular business model displaces the purchase of a new item.
WRAP’s latest report delves into the complexities of displacement rates, offering valuable insights into their measurement and impact.
Explore their findings and what they mean for sustainability efforts in their report: Displacement Rates Untangled
Some key findings from the report:
Tested by preloved and repair platforms eBay, Vestiaire Collective, Depop, The Seam, SOJO and brand Finisterre, the research has provided insight into the environmental savings of circular business models and has produced a UK weighted average displacement rate for resale and, for the first time, repair.
Repair:
For every 5 items repaired, 4 displace a new purchase – resulting in a displacement rate of 82.2%.
Repairing one cotton t-shirt instead of buying a brand new one could save over 7.5kg CO2e, equivalent to ironing for 25 hours.
Resale:
For every 5 preloved items bought, 3 displace new purchases – resulting in a displacement rate of 64.6%.
Buying a preloved pair of jeans online instead of buying a brand-new pair could save over 30kg CO2e, equivalent to making 600 cups of tea.
Trade Show: Leicester Made, 14th May 2025
The second annual trade show and event Leicester Made provides a unique platform to network retail buyers with ethical and sustainable factories and brands in Leicester today.
The event will also host panels of keynote speakers within the industry to review and discuss major topics within the fashion industry today and also provides the community of Leicester to engage with educational institutions, NGOs and support organisations.
Key Highlights include:
Trade Show – Explore a curated exhibition of Leicester’s finest manufacturers, showcasing trims, fabrics, and apparel production while connecting brands with sourcing opportunities.
Fashion Show & Exhibition – Celebrate Leicester’s creative talent as emerging designers showcase their work to key industry decision-makers and manufacturers.
Panel Discussions – Gain insights from industry experts on sustainability, manufacturing innovation, and ethical supply chains.
Keynote Speakers – Be inspired by visionary leaders sharing innovative ideas that will shape the future of the fashion and manufacturing industries.
CEO Roundtable – A high-level forum where industry leaders, government, and brands will discuss actionable steps to revitalise British manufacturing and build a sustainable future.
Schools, Colleges & Universities – A dedicated platform for students to learn from industry experts, gaining inspiration and insight into careers in ethical fashion and manufacturing.This event is not just about discussions—it’s about driving real change. Be part of shaping a sustainable, ethical, and innovative future for UK fashion and manufacturing.
Find out more about Leicester Made here
Brexit stole the show from London Fashion Week — and gifted it to Paris
As red tape and higher costs hammer British designers, France is ready to pounce writes Caroline Hug for POLITICO.
“…Yet beneath all the gloss, critics in the crowds pointed to the city’s waning fashion influence, and were already looking ahead to attend their next destination — Paris.
Paris Fashion Week kicked off on Monday. The grand finale of the “big four” fashion capitals, it caps a month-long circuit from New York to London to Milan and, finally, Paris.
For fashion enthusiasts, the hierarchy is clear. “London is more like personal and niche brands, and Paris is more international, bigger brands,” blogger Elizabeth, who only gave us her first name, told POLITICO on the sidelines of the runway. “Both have their benefits. But yeah, of course, I prefer Paris.””
Caroline’ spoke to industry experts for the article, including our founder and CEO, Tamara Cincik.
Event: Shop the Dance Floor: A pre-loved fashion sale with Sophie Ellis-Bextor, 14th March 2025, West London
Singer and style icon Sophie Ellis-Bextor is opening up her personal wardrobe for an exclusive sale, alongside Dilly Carter from Declutter Dollies and a host of other brands.
This is a rare opportunity to shop Sophie’s iconic, pre-loved fashion pieces while supporting a great cause! All of proceeds will go directly to The Eve Appeal, the leading UK gynaecological cancer charity.
Location: Chiswick Town Hall, Heathfield Terrace, Chiswick, London W4 4JN
Date: Friday, 14th March, 10 a.m. - 4 p.m
Every ticket includes entry into a raffle for a chance to win exciting prizes.
Survey on priorities to shape UK system for protecting designs
The Intellectual Property Office (IPO) has published a new survey aimed at designers, design businesses, legal professionals and anyone interested in design. This will explore the principles which should shape the future of the UK designs system.
This survey seeks views on what matters most when protecting designs and how the system should be improved. Responses will inform future consultation proposals.
Why your views matter
The IPO wants to hear from businesses of all sizes, and from a wide range of sectors which use design protection – whether an individual entrepreneur, start-up, established firm or large corporate. We also want to hear from trade bodies and legal professionals.
The survey closes on 1st April 2025.
From Fashion Buyer to MP: Rosie Wrighting on swapping Asos for Westminster
Rosie Wrighting, the youngest female MP - and the first one who has worked in fashion - is determined to make her mark on parliament, writes Karen Dacre for The Times.
Fashion Roundtable Library: How to Lose a Country : The 7 Steps from Democracy to Fascism
How to Lose a Country is a warning to the world that populism and nationalism don't march fully-formed into government; they creep.
Award-winning author and journalist Ece Temelkuran identifies the early warning signs of this phenomenon, sprouting up across the world from Eastern Europe to South America, in order to arm the reader with the tools to recognise it and take action. Weaving memoir, history and clear-sighted argument, Temelkuran proposes alternative answers to the pressing - and too often paralysing - political questions of our time.
How to Lose a Country is an exploration of the insidious ideas at the core of these movements and an urgent, eloquent defence of democracy.