“The mention of a mobility framework is a great success for Fashion Roundtable, as it echoes our requests for a common EU level work visa that the industry`s freelancer could utilise. We are very happy to see it as an ask and will work towards making this a reality.”

Tamara Cincik CEO and Founder of Fashion Roundtable: "Real luxury for me means knowing that who made my clothes did so with dignity, fair wages and in safe conditions. It's no longer enough to have the best fabrics and the most original designs. For fashion to stay relevant as the consumer demand for sustainability grows, we need to see all brands and that means at the designer end as well as on the high street, whether they are a huge international or start up SME, make supply chain decisions which have this at the heart of their business strategy."

"Why is the UK Government discussing options that a) will be rejected by the EU b) will not be possible to implement in the given time period?”

Bev Malik: “India is in many senses the home of fashion and textiles and I was thrilled to support the emerging talents and interact with the industry here on behalf of Fashion Roundtable which seeks to support and connect global talent through its conversation and projects”.

“The fashion industry is the diamond of the British culture, you can’t come for anyone from the British fashion industry. The Government needs to start recognising that fashion is one of the best industries for the country… we’re talking about the little people, because it’s all the little people who are going to restaurants, buying the clothes, paying the mortgages…”

Anna Fitzpatrick is the Sustainability Expert at Fashion Roundtable, has created this survey: click here on Sustainability and Geopolitics, in advance of our event on the same topic on 23/05. Anna was the secretariat for for the All Party Parliamentary Group for Sustainable Fashion and works at the Centre for Sustainable Fashion.

" Blurred line between appropriation and appreciation. It’s a conversation being had by a lot of people."

 

Huishan Zhang saw his label as a point of change: away from mass market towards a luxury vision of Made In China. What began with him and his aunt, has grown into a UK studio and Chinese atelier where he has over 40 staff creating sustainable fashion in China, supportive of the local community and employees and the recent opening of his flagship store in Mount Street, Mayfair.

Donald Tusk, President of the European Council said: "It will make it more complicated and costly than today for all of us. This is the essence of Brexit."

"We are leaving the single market. Life is going to be different. In certain ways, our access to each other's markets will be less than it is now. How could the EU's structure of rights and obligations be sustained, if the UK - or any country - were allowed to enjoy all the benefits without all of the obligations?
So we need to strike a new balance. But we will not accept the rights of Canada and the obligations of Norway."

As we await credible proposals from the UK government, the lack of lobbying from UK industries in mainland Europe is also apparent. Creative industries, and fashion in particular, need to be seen and heard on both sides of the English Channel. Not only is the EU our largest fashion trading partner, within that, Ireland is our largest import partner, and the fashion industry cannot accept a future where border control towards Ireland, NI and mainland Europe will apply at the same time, limiting our industries ability to build and maintain viable supply chains. We call on the UK government to propose measures that protect our fashion industry, textiles and manufacturing sector, promote our cross-border alliances and protect the rights of our freelance employees. Our data, which we worked on with Assay Advisory and sees very similar outcomes to that done by Bloomberg, and BOF, places a 35% loss of GDP, or £8bn a year lost to our UK fashion economy if the UK and EU cannot agree a deal, or the UK decides upon a hard Brexit. 

The prioritisation of one industry above another worries us at Fashion Roundtable, as this implies that the needs of the one sector is already taking priority above other very valuable ones, such as ours'.

In a hard Brexit, the fashion industry's contribution to UK GDP could fall by 35%

Fashion has always been international. The thread in your jacket, the buttons on your shirt, the leather in your shoes, all come from different countries, and any one outfit is composed of materials from numerous territories. And it’s not just clothes. Being part of a large trading bloc brings in the investment, talent and skills and EU funding which allows London to maintain its seat on the global fashion stage.

As in all negotiations parties go in considering their own best interest and asking for everything they feel they can and should have. It would be great to have a written position on the asks and offers of the UK Government as well. It seems for the time being there are statements made behind closed doors (in Brussels) and statements made in public (in the UK) and these two are not quite aligned yet.

"You have to work with people who you might not agree with, and you have to work with people where you can find a common ground because in the common ground you will achieve something."

"The Blue Planet effect is sweeping across Westminster and it’s time for the fashion industry to take a grip of this movement"