In a world which feels uncertain, unstable, and all too frequently it is, there is something very powerful in recognising the timelessness of sustainable values, craft skills, nature and provenance. These are core to our work at Fashion Roundtable and what I found refreshing was to see them in action from education through to business via the work of The Princes Foundation.

I am a black woman, and the founder of the lingerie brand, the underargument. I'm one of the many designers whose identity makes them hot property for larger retail businesses right now. These retailers are aiming to show the world they are not only woke, but committed to creating more equality for minority groups. But my recent experience with a large American retailer has forced me to question the authenticity of these so-called positive actions…

It is clear that fashion and positive activism are now firm allies. Fashion Roundtable has been a key player in this shift: our two recent reports have highlighted the structural issues inhibiting diverse groups from achieving success, and the environmental and ethical impacts that the industry has on our planet and citizens. But Fashion Roundtable doesn't just shine a light on the problems, what we do is not just pain porn. We unravel the issues with the mission to then solve them— offering opportunities for transformation and pushing for an industry, and in turn society, which is fundamentally more inclusive and more sustainable.

Gone are the days where black models will have to bring their own hair styling tools and style themselves – so we hope. After a recent review by the National Occupational Standards for hairdressing, Afro and ‘Textured’ hair has been included into the styling and cutting practice standard. This means all UK hairdressers will now have to be trained in cutting and styling Afro-textured hair. But how effective will this change will really be for black women? asks Davina Appiagyei.

"London has always been a torchbearer and champion of the brightest young talent, acting as a springboard for a huge portion of the world’s most talented designers to grow and become international names. But now as we look to the future and a return to a new normal, we must safeguard and support our young talent..."

Ultimately, the pandemic has gendered consequences, and industries must work harder to remove new and pre-existing barriers women face in the workplace. A damaging #shecession is avoidable if women are represented and invested in.

First rumoured back in July of last year, it’s been in the news again that the Treasury are considering a new online sales tax. But a simplistic approach to taxing online retailers creates very little of the desired outcome, and causes chaos for smaller businesses and start-ups that governments are usually so keen to support.

“Autumn / Winter 2021, entitled Ascension, marks a new dawn for ART SCHOOL, and indeed for myself as its creative director, my first full season alone. Ascension is a dystopian new view of the ART SCHOOL community, our place in the world and the relationships we form in trying times.”

Exploiting people of colour to make their clothes, selling racially insensitive clothing, discriminating against models, displacing indigenous peoples, and cultural appropriation are the norm in the fast fashion world. Social media posts in support of relevant social issues are also the norm nowadays; what’s missing is the action that reflects these positive sentiments. How can we spot performative activism? Let’s take a quick look at the language behind the facade.

As we head into the festive season, at the end of the most difficult of years for so many, Eden Loweth discusses the the emotional power of chosen family. Within the queer community, the importance of chosen family can be vital in providing stability, safety and comfort to many who find themselves alone in a city, often discovering their true selves along the way.

In the first of Eden Loweth's monthly Op-Eds for Fashion Roundtable, our new ambassador asks - in an industry infamous for its exhausting pace and pressurised reality, how can we support and protect its talent and their minds?

From styling to illustration and fashion design, Desislava Todorova speaks to three young creatives about how our imminent departure from the EU is affecting their work; and how they imagine life in the UK post-Brexit.

Everything you need to know about the OAR— a free, neutral and open source tool mapping garment facilities worldwide and allocating a unique ID to each. The OAR was launched in March 2019 and has now grown to over 43,600 facilities across 129 countries. Here’s how the tool is becoming the industry’s “central source of truth”.

We’re all familiar with the tactic of drowning a hashtag or report, something that’s a specialty of online fast fashion retailers. From giveaways to new collections released at the same time as controversy hits, this isn’t a coincidence. But in a time when consumers talk of wanting a cleaner industry, will they need longer memories to make that happen?

“For too long communities like the one I come from have been trapped in a marginalised reality of under representation and exclusion, this has to stop. I implore every designer, agent, creative and CEO reading this to open the doors to real change. In this moment, in 2020, a year of unimaginable hardship, now is the time to act.”

The fashion industry strives for images where women are placed at the forefront of power, yet behind the scenes they are left vulnerable to gender-based harassment and predatory behaviours. We need greater allyship to improve gender equality— without a collective effort, people who engage in destructive behaviours will continue their cycle of abuse. Time’s up on the fashion industry’s gender imbalance.

“Fashion doesn’t seem to speak my language” says Julie Uddin as she explains why the fashion industry’s commitment to inclusive sizing must go further…

In light of Oxfam’s #SecondHandSeptember, our Founder and CEO Tamara Cincik shares her love letter to vintage clothing and a few expert tips on how to make your hunt for a second-hand wardrobe even more sustainable.

This horrendous virus has confined most people to their homes against their will which is likely to be a strange concept to non-disabled people — but one that’s familiar to nearly all of us with disabilities. Disabled people face a daily crisis just by the mere fact we are disabled, which often passes the gaze of our non-disabled counterparts.