The Weekly Briefing - 14 December

Our researcher Heather Lafferty presents a roundup of the week’s fashion and politics headlines— including the impact of ending the VAT Retail Export Scheme that provides tax-free shopping for international retailers. The Evening Standard reports that “The impact on the British fashion industry will be colossal.” Not only will it mean a loss of jobs in London but also in retail, design and manufacturing throughout the UK. “We are looking at a loss of approximately 40,000 fashion jobs in total — and that’s not including the thousands of jobs in hospitality also reliant on tourist spend,” says British Fashion Council CEO Caroline Rush.