All the key topics of conversation at our recent meeting with Extinction Rebellion's Boycott Fashion Team

Last week Tamara Cincik was part of 3 events—one for Fashion Roundtable and two as a guest speaker—all encompassing hugely varying audiences.

From Friday 29th November through to Cyber Monday, reductions that make many a heart race will descend upon windows and websites alike as discounting overshadows the retail sector. But with the rise of the ethical consumer, the backlash against Black Friday is becoming ever more apparent as many sustainable brands are now utilising this as a competitive lever and advantage to further distance themselves from the repeat offenders. 

All too often however, fashion has been left as an oversight by politicians, with other industries grabbing media attention and the political limelight. The Fashion Roundtable Election Manifesto outlines our key asks from all political parties, across they vital issues that matter. From workers’ rights, to sustainability, from freedom of movement, to education, we have raised the issues that go to the heart of what all within our sector need from their elected candidates.

This November the Tate Gallery unveils ‘Year 3’, a new exhibition of work by the Turner Prize winner and award-winning film director, Steve McQueen.

Kings College London welcomed the former US secretary of State, and the first female presidential candidate of a major US political party, for an amazing conversation with the chair, Julia Gillard, former Prime Minister of Australia, as part of the #worldquestions event series. The series is aiming to promote new perspectives, insights and solutions from global leaders.

In a new series of interviews with Fashion Roundtable’s community of experts, Caryn Franklin shares her personal insights and thoughts on the greatest issues currently facing the fashion industry. It is a pleasure to share the following interview with you.

On Tuesday 5th November a second meeting was held between Fashion Roundtable as secretariat for The All Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) for Textiles and Fashion, leading voices in sustainable fashion and education, and Extinction Rebellion’s (XR) boycott fashion team.

The Essex lorry tragedy consumed the news headlines leaving many people shocked and horrified. But in fact, Modern Day Slavery is much more part of our everyday lives than this event (and people’s reactions to it) might suggest. Just look at the fashion industry where our contribution to MDS as fashion consumers is very evident.

Every year Halloween seems to become a bigger cultural and commercial phenomenon. But before we get carried away with the spectacle of it all, it’s important to acknowledge the negative environmental impact of these annual festivities.

In early October, luxury brand Louis Vuitton inaugurated a 100,000 square- foot factory in Texas, U.S., aiming “to meet the ever-growing demand” for its products in the market. It was a media circus— with LVMH CEO and chairman Bernard Arnault accompanying Donald Trump to a ribbon-cutting ceremony at the new factory, the occasion ignited a flurry of memes and social media takedowns.

Our event last week was packed with an audience of all ages, backgrounds and voices. Karen covered her work but what for me was perhaps most moving, especially as it aligns with our work on Representation and Inclusion, was when Karen covered what cultural appropriation in fashion looks like in her own inimitable way.

And this is what I recall when I think of Sophia's clothes too: you knew what you were getting with a Sophia Kokosalaki silhouette, be that for Ruffo Research, Vionnet or her own label. You were never going to be short-changed, you were going to be offered the best version of yourself and you were going to have a rollicking great evening.

The government has today (8 October) published an update to the UK’s temporary tariff regime if we leave the EU without a deal.

The city has often struggled to consolidate the unabashed high octane glamour once revered in the eighties and the minimalism focus on artisanship and elegance over uber-creative design. This season it all came together, whilst showcasing the maturation of other peripheral categories such as accessories or contemporary brands who took a well deserved bow.

A look at the sustainability initiatives taking centre stage at PFW SS20— Stella McCartney’s sustainable solution to faux fur and Dior’s zero-waste catwalk set.