Make it British and Fashion Roundtable host industry roundtable with Baroness Jane Bonham-Carter and the Liberal Democrat Creative Network on the impacts of Brexit on the fashion sector
image of Kate Hills and Tamara Cincik in the House of Lords.
Topic: How Brexit has impacted the British fashion sector and what we can do about it
House of Lords, London, 31st January 2024 // PRESS RELEASE
On the 31st January 2024, Fashion Roundtable along with Make it British, hosted an industry-focused roundtable discussion with Baroness Jane Bonham-Carter – the Liberal Democrat Lords Spokesperson for Culture Media and Sport, as well as the Liberal Democrat Creative Network and the Liberal Democrat DCMS Parliamentary Group.
Chaired by Fashion Roundtable’s CEO, Tamara Cincik, as well as Charles Brand, the Chair of the Liberal Democrat Creative Network, those who gave evidence at the roundtable included Kate Hills – CEO of Make it British; John Horner – CEO of Models 1 and the Chair of the British Fashion Model Agents Association (BFMA); Sylvie Freund Pickavance – Global Strategy and Business Development Director, Value Retail; Alexander Wills – Founder of Maake; Zowie Broach – Head of Programme, MA Fashion at the Royal College of Art; Paul Alger – Director of International Affairs at UK Fashion & Textile Association; Rachel Walker – Founder of Luxury Lockstitch.
The purpose of the roundtable was to discuss the main challenges that post-Brexit agreements were posing to the British fashion sector, providing an opportunity for the top-line issues of Brexit to be heard.
With the majority of the UK manufacturing sector made up of SMEs, the roundtable heard that Brexit has compounded a skills shortage. Issues of freedom of movement in both goods as well as talent as well as a massive impact to the luxury sector, tourism and hospitality due to the removal of the UK VAT Retail Scheme.
Tamara Cincik, CEO, Fashion Roundtable said:
“The impacts of Brexit have always been well understood by the fashion industry, who since Fashion Roundtable’s inception, have consistently told us the issues they face and the impacts this is having on the sector, from the loss of reputation, to the severity of the delays and cost of red tape, as well as unilateral decisions by the UK Government to end the lucrative VAT Retail Export Scheme, which Sylvie Freund-Pickavance cited could generate £10bn in terms of sales, hospitality and tourism for the UK economy and rebuild the UK’s reputation, as Paris not London is now the number 1 tourist destination of choice within Europe, impacting sales, spend and jobs.”
Kate Hills – CEO of Make it British said:
“UK garment and textile manufacturing is made up of thousands of micro businesses, and these roundtables are essential to get the voices of those businesses heard."
Baroness Jane Bonham-Carter the Liberal Democrat Lords Spokesperson for Culture Media and Sport said:
“Yesterday’s presentation of the serious issues facing the Fashion Industry highlighted not only the self-inflicted damage caused by post Brexit regulations but also a serious growing skills shortage. The Liberal Democrats will redouble efforts to highlight ways that the Government could undo some of the damage done.”
Charles Brand, the Chair of the Liberal Democrat Creative Network said:
“Yesterday’s briefing meeting organised by the Fashion Roundtable and Make It British, laid out the shocking damage done by post Brexit regulations and the associated skills shortages to what was until recently a world beating expanding industry. We will work to publicise the need for Government to urgently focus on coming up with solutions.”
Notes to Editors:
Baroness Jane Bonham-Carter is the Liberal Democrat Lords Spokesperson for Culture Media and Sport.
The Liberal Democrat Creative Network is the forum for people who work in or support the creative industries.
Fashion Roundtable is the only think tank dedicated to reimagining a creative and responsible fashion industry.
Make it British is a membership organisation, supporting UK brands. Founded by UK manufacturing expert Kate Hills.
For more information please contact:
Meg Pirie, Fashion Roundtable’s Content Editor – meg.pirie@fashionroundtable.co.uk