Fashion Roundtable Partners with Bath Spa University to deliver the vision for the National Centre for Fashion and Sustainability

Bath Spa University has partnered with Fashion Roundtable to deliver impact and policy-change to power a transition to sustainable fashion futures. BSU will support the work of two policy researchers within Fashion Roundtable, for an initial period of two years. In return, Fashion Roundtable will work with BSU on real change to the fashion industry, including the development of successful research and knowledge exchange around all aspects of sustainable fashion.

Report cover: Design by www.studiobyfarr.co.uk

The Great British Wool Revival

As a follow on from the pilot launch of Fashion Roundtable’s wool programme in 2022, after vast amounts of qualitative and quantitative research and conversations with key stakeholders came the launch of The Great British Wool Revival, an open source tool that connects farmers, designers, makers and industry together to join the dots and make traceable British wool more accessible in fashion supply chains from farm right through to final product.

Website design and art direction by www.studiobyfarr.co.uk

Overview of the Fashion & Economic Value Report 2024

As the election period is nearing its conclusion, I wanted to provide you with pivotal insights from our latest report, "Fashion & Economic Value Report 2024." This report underscores the significant contributions and future potential of the UK fashion sector and outlines critical recommendations for driving sustainability, inclusivity, and economic resilience within the industry.

Report cover: Design by www.studiobyfarr.co.uk

What we'd like to see in tomorrow's Spring budget for fashion and textiles

Tomorrow marks the announcement of the Spring Budget and what many anticipate to be the last fiscal event before the general election, which we’re pegging for Autumn. As such, this might be the final opportunity for the Conservatives to set policies prior to an election.

After collating both qualitative and quantitative data over recent months, in time to share our Sector Vision in Parliament, we have been advocating for a number of sector recommendations which we have presented cross-party.

Our recommendations encompass many facets of the sector from farming through to academia and are focused on the long-term, however there are two recommendations that we’d like to see taken up immediately in tomorrow’s budget.

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Photo: Photo by Ugur Akdemir on Unsplash. Image of Westminster buildings.

2024, 2023Tamara CincikMarch 5, 2024VAT Retail Export Scheme, Tax Incentives, Spring Budget 2024

Op:Ed – Is Regenerative Fashion Possible?

Designer Harriet Fletcher-Gilhuys attended last week’s Conduit event: ‘Is Regenerative Fashion Possible?’ supported by the Farmer’s Footprint. Here she delves into the complexities and explores the panellists discussion exploring the transition to a fashion system that ultimately sets out to benefit nature and society.

Photo by Zoe Schaeffer on Unsplash. Image shows farmer at work.

2024, 2023Tamara CincikMarch 5, 2024Regenerative fashion, natural dye, British wool, Fibre sovereignty

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

Amanda Slattery 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 rise of fast fashion, 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.

2024Tamara CincikFebruary 13, 2024Brexit & Fashion, Legislation, Forward Order, SME, Covid, Fast Fashion

Will the government U-turn on the VAT Retail Export Scheme?

After holding two key roundtables last week, we discuss one of the key findings being the effect of the end to the UK’s VAT Retail Export Scheme.

The unilateral decisions by the UK Government to end the lucrative VAT Retail Export Scheme, which Sylvie Freund-Pickavance cited as having the potential to generate £10bn in terms of sales, hospitality and tourism, was cited as a missed opportunity. This is something that Fashion Roundtable have been consistently lobbying on.

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Clare Press’s brilliant new book is just the positive reimagining of the fashion sector we need for 2024!

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.

Clare introduces us to fascinating innovators around the globe who are redesigning fashion from the ground up, and changing it in the most fundamental ways.

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Reimagining Luxury: the new book offering a practical guide for brands seeking authentic sustainability

Thriving in a sustainable future means that brands must navigate this changing terrain and take into account these legislations in forecasting and future business strategies. Perhaps poignantly, scrutiny will not only come from governments and regulators, but also stakeholders, consumers and competitor brands, as we collectively move from climate targets to climate transitional plans.

In her book, Reimagining Luxury, author Diana Verde Nieto offers practical frameworks and concrete examples for brands, through a holistic approach – covering topics such as sustainable investments; regenerative practices; legislation; environmental and social implications; as well as positive storytelling.

2024Tamara CincikJanuary 16, 2024Reimagining Fashion, Diana Verde Nieto, Sustainable, Brands, Legislation, Frameworks, Innovation

A new year, a new Government?

The start of a new year and already there are the familiar rumbles of a General Election. The feelings of general unrest seem to be growing, amidst a time of climate anxiety, global boiling, economic upheaval, and broken or overburdened support systems. Resulting in an increase in the polarity between surviving and thriving, with a lack of long-term strategy around our collective wellbeing.

Last year, we released our Creative Wellbeing Economy paper, where we made a case for a deeper, more long term reconnection with core values across the whole of our lives, with a particular focus being wellbeing for people and planet.

Read on for more.

Photo by Florian GIORGIO on Unsplash. Photo shows the Houses of Parliament.

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