Why Fashion Roundtable supported Stella Creasy MP's Meet the Fashion Creatives in her Walthamstow Constituency last Saturday.

We think this could be a nationwide initiative, which would really add impact to local entrepreneurship.

On Saturday, Harriet and I went to Walthamstow to support the local MP Stella Creasy and her team who had organised an event in the Soho Theatre there, bringing together industry leaders, local entrepreneurs, start-ups, creatives and established businesses.

We ensured that some key industry voices were there: The BFC, Fashion Enter, Make It British, Fashion District, and Blackhorse Lane Ateliers. These business leaders connected with some of the fantastic local brands that Stella’s team had coordinated.

I particularly loved meeting local knitwear entrepreneur Debbie Bliss, whose wool my Nana uses to knit with (she was an incredible knitter) and whose British wool knitted sweater using an intricate design of cable knit patterns I loved so much, reader it was bought on the spot! You can see Harriet’s interview clip with Debbie on our Instagram here. Perfect for October’s Wool Month and our work at the Great British Wool Revival.

Stella wore Walthamstow brands @houseofkind.london @glowlondon137 and 5050parliament who support gender equity in parliament.

I came away thinking this work brings to life our annual Value of Fashion mapping, which we publish each year. When I launched Fashion Roundtable, we emailed every single of the 650 UK MPs the value their industry makes from and the number of constituents they have, from the fashion industry. This was the first time this had ever been done. A clear gap in previous policy outreach. Imagine if each constituency had a fashion meet up: entrepreneurs, funders, studio space, mentors and educators, manufacturers, start-ups and brands? Given the in real time impacts we have all seen in the past several years, I am sure this could generate collaboration, inward investment, and greater local economy rewards. This was Stella’s ambition for last Saturday and honestly I think it’s laudable.