Last week was momentous for me on many levels. If Brexit were a novel, we would finally be entering the preface, having lingered in the contents pages for the past three and a half years. At 11pm on Friday we finally entered the transition phase which will last until December 2020. By then we should understand the trade deal that the UK will enjoy with the EU for the years ahead. For anyone who thought this means we can now stop talking about Brexit, I apologise, but this will be the theme of the months and indeed years ahead as the UK negotiates with the EU and then with other nations. We must also adjust to our new identity outside of the EU. While Fashion Roundtable remains non partisan and apolitical, I read this article by Ian McEwan for The Guardian, which does show how long and how hard this identity crisis could take and at what cost. To read more from me on Brexit and the issues now facing the fashion industry, please take a look at this article I wrote for Eco-Age and my points for this piece by Vogue Business.

Fashion Roundtable were invited to take part in The Sustainable Angle Future Fabrics Expo where we hosted a stall. I was moved to see our leaflets and work being shared by our amazing stall team— it was packed out, which is surely an indication of how sustainable fashion can thrive with positive opportunities. On Wednesday, I chaired a talk on the big stuff— the planetary emergency and what business needs to focus on now— with an impressive panel of speakers. Sandrine Dixson-Decleve (who has advised everyone from HRH The Prince of Wales to the EU, OPEC and Cambridge University), Martin Brambley from the brand Doppelhaus, Jennie Rosen CEO of the Swedish Fashion Council (who radically decided last September not to host their fashion week while they recalibrate in light of the climate crisis) and Francesca Suarez from Mirova Natural Capital who concentrate on ethical financials.

During this talk, I posed the panel three questions:

1) current business models, the state of the planet, linear capitalist growth models and our finite futures

2) how are you working in new ways or with fresh insights to mitigate against existing models and to create new opportunities: how does that feel and what excites you to do this?

3) new models or shifts we can all make: as businesses, communities, and as individuals to enable a more circular economy in both business and life. Is that for instance: a statutory governmental minimum wage, such as a reduced working week?

Parley TV filmed the panel so we will share the talk when we have it.

Next week, Fashion Roundtable will host our LOVE IS LOVE evening. I know I have delved into something new with this. As feel we have hit "peak panel", it feels logical to me to have all aspects of what love is discussed, as we get creative for LFW, Valentine's Day and celebrate LGBTQ history month. I wanted to curate an event which expresses our work across policy and community in a more interactive format.

The Q&A will pose all questions about love with designer-turned-artist Zakee Shariff, singer Sophie Ellis-Bextor, designer from cult brand ArtSchool London (and Fashion East alumni) Eden Loweth , LGBTQ+ model and activist Jamie Windust, and writer Abi Angus.

This will be followed by a manifesting LOVE workshop led by Zakee. Think self love, identity, what holds us back and why, plus how we can shift any blocks or doubts to realise our potentials. Want to set your goals and intentions: how can you shift your doubts to manifest abundance and love. While I realise this is not for everyone (just call me Gwyneth Paltrow), when I aim for what is just out of reach and work hard towards it, I really do believe that intention sets a focus which has definitely borne out results.

This is embedded in the collaborative and empathetic identity of what Fashion Roundtable is, and it will remain core to our values as we grow. I want fashion to be valued and able to succeed in a post Brexit market place, but I also want to see all of you realise your potential and overcome obstacles. This is not Tamara-hippy speak. As I look at the new business models discussed at my panel last week, or Clare Press's impressive workshop for Fashion Roundtable on the Power of Influence last weekend, it’s clear that to succeed in sustainable ways, we have to reevaluate. When we allow ourselves to see success in new ways, not always based on “more is more” growth models, we are then rooted in empathy, love and kindness. Love is also how we respect ourselves, our ambitions, dreams and aspirations. Love is how we navigate healthy relationships (from food and fashion to sex and social media) and working patterns as they enter a brave new world with the rise of freelance economies.

These issues aren’t always discussed in career manuals or empowerment books, but I am certain this will be core to how we have to communicate, do business and build our lives in the coming decade. No doubt buzzing from the manifesting workshop, we then have a series of craft workshops: enjoying a headdress workshop, a jewellery workshop and a brooch embroidery workshop by the incredible Royal School of Needlework. Plus if that wasn't enough, we have the celebrity make-up artist Elena Diaz, giving makeovers to guests and we’ll have “goody bags” sourced by Sarah.

I really hope to see lots of you there. Tickets are available here.

From The Sustainable Angle's Future Fabrics Expo to Brexit Day, Tamara Cincik reflects on the past week