'Our recommendations serve as a roadmap towards an even more inclusive and successful UK fashion industry' - Dr Lisa Cameron MP, Chair of the APPG for Textiles and Fashion
Representation and Inclusion in the Fashion Industry: A report from the All-Party Parliamentary Group for Textiles and Fashion
A Foreword by Dr Lisa Cameron MP, Chair of the APPG for Textiles and Fashion
As Chair of the All-Party Parliamentary Group for Textiles and Fashion, I am delighted to see this report, addressing representation and inclusion in the fashion industry. This industry is a fantastic asset to the UK economy, the largest of our creative sector, generating almost 1m jobs pre-pandemic and acting as an important employer across manufacturing, retail and fashion professional roles across the four nations of the UK. From Scottish cashmere, to Welsh denim, from Northern Irish dressmaking, to Savile Row suiting, the UK fashion sector is a global leader, both in heritage brands and sustainable design innovation. I view this APPG as an important voice for industry within the UK parliament and my role as key to raising the reputation and supporting the talent of our brilliant UK designers to parliamentary colleagues. From meetings with Ministers, to raising questions to the Prime Minister, during the course of my Chairship, we have seen a wider appreciation of the value of this industry by parliamentary colleagues and a keen interest in our meetings across manufacturing, exports, design and innovation.
This report into Inclusion & Representation looks at the role of the fashion professional and the impacts that a reported lack of diversity has, not only on the individual, but also the economic impacts on the business revenue of brands and on the wider economy. But this is not just an economic impact, it also has social and wellbeing implications, all of which this paper not only outlines, but offers solutions to address.
It is my hope that this paper is read widely, both by industry and Government, and that our recommendations serve as a roadmap towards an even more inclusive, representative and successful UK fashion industry in the future.