Press Release: Leading figures from UK Fashion attend Roundtable with Labour’s Shadow minister at the Design Museum
Topic: How can Labour support the British fashion industry?
Design Museum, London, 30th January 2024 // PRESS RELEASE
Image shows Sarah Mower MBE with Sir Chris Bryant. Photo Credit: Steve Watson
On the 30th January 2024, Fashion Roundtable, along with Shadow Minister for Creative Industries and Digital, Sir Chris Bryant, hosted a roundtable with the Parliamentary Labour Party where industry leaders outlined the opportunities and challenges faced by the British fashion sector.
The roundtable was preceded by a tour of the Design Museum’s ‘REBEL: 30 Years of London Fashion’ exhibition by Guest Curator Sarah Mower MBE. This allowed for the context of how politics and fashion could be a power play for the UK when combined effectively.
Chaired by Fashion Roundtable’s CEO, Tamara Cincik, speakers for the subsequent roundtable included Sarah Mower MBE – the British Fashion Council's Ambassador for Emerging Talent, Chair of the NEWGEN committee and Guest Curator of the Design Museum’s ‘REBEL: 30 Years of London Fashion’ exhibition; John Horner – CEO of Models 1 and the Chair of the British Fashion Model Agents Association (BFMA); Kate Hills – CEO of Make it British; Professor Dilys Williams – Head of the Centre for Sustainable Fashion, UAL; and Sylvie Freund Pickavance – Global Strategy and Business Development Director, Value Retail.
The meeting provided an opportunity for stakeholders within the sector to be heard and provided a strong overview of the current landscape of the British fashion sector. From opportunities for international business; British made and owned fashion procurement and onshoring opportunities; end-of-life strategies; barriers and opportunities for NEW GEN as well as existing talent within the UK and global markets; and a means for creative education to recentre sustainability within the curriculum. The EU has 16 pieces of legislation already in place for the fashion and textiles sector and it was noted that the UK has an opportunity to align and develop a sector which can operate in the local and global market with ease.
Tamara Cincik, CEO, Fashion Roundtable said:
“In the countdown to a General Election it is so important that the fashion industry is part of the policy making debate as political parties create their Manifesto pledges to us the electorate. The roundtable hosted at The Design Museum was a fantastic opportunity for key voices from across fashion, design, education, manufacturing and retail to discuss issues and opportunities with Sir Chris Bryant in his role as Shadow Minister for Creative Industries and Digital.
“The General Election is a chance for the UK to revalue our fantastic creative industries, a vanguard fashion industry and commit to bringing public procurement back to the UK, reinstating the VAT Retail Export Scheme to lure tourists back to the UK, as well as supporting our world-class leaders in sustainable and heritage fashion and textiles. I am hopeful that we can not only fix the problems but build these solutions together.”
Shadow Minister for Creative Industries and Digital, Sir Chris Bryant said:
“The UK has a phenomenal set of talented individuals and international fashion brands that mean we can excel in a way no other country can. We bring verve, passion, edge and commercial savvy to the table. There are big challenges for the industry and Labour is determined to work with industry to make sure no talent is wasted.”
Image shows John Horner, Founder of Models 1 and Chair of the BFMA with Sir Chris Bryant.
Notes to Editors:
Sir Chris Bryant is the Shadow Minister for Creative Industries and Digital.
The Parliamentary Labour Party (PLP) is the parliamentary group of the Labour Party in Parliament.
Fashion Roundtable is the only think tank dedicated to reimagining a creative and responsible fashion industry.
For more information please contact:
Meg Pirie, Fashion Roundtable’s Content Editor – meg.pirie@fashionroundtable.co.uk