“One of the most prominent issues with Topshop’s business model was that they didn’t shift their values to match what Gen Z were demanding as consumers. Unlike my generation, where your identity was largely reflected by what brand you wore, fashion for this particular generation has been more about aligning with brands that reflect their own identities and less about buying the latest It-bag. These shoppers are value-oriented and are far more open to alternative fashion systems…”

By refusing every norm, Halima Aden took the world of fashion by storm. She showed the world a Hijabi model is something that the fashion industry craved. But behind her stratospheric rise, there was a sense of deep unease. It conjures up an uncomfortable argument: was the fashion world ever really inclusive?

There is now less than one month to go until the end of the transition period. It is vital that you act now to avoid disruptions to business operations and to help you make the most of the opportunities that 2021 will bring.

This article continues a list of relevant updates for your businesses/members and supply chains.

Please see below today’s Covid-19 bulletin, including a breakdown of the new tiering system; updated guidance on Government’s support schemes in response to the impact of Covid-19; as well as yesterday’s Spending Review announcement.

In September, the UK government announced its decision to abolish the VAT Retail Export Scheme. VAT RES, which has enabled foreign visitors to purchase goods and claim back VAT, is scheduled to end from 1 January 2021. But the decision to withdraw the VAT Retail Export Scheme puts the retail, tourism and hospitality sectors at risk.

Compare and contrast the body-con dresses, capes and stilettos favoured by the Trump women, with the Converse, jeans and jacket combos sported by Kamala Harris. This stark contrast illustrates the power of sartorial politics— by decoding our clothes, we can see the true values at the heart of a narrative.

This bulletin provides the latest information for employers and businesses on coronavirus (COVID-19). All coronavirus business support information can be found at gov.UK/business-support

Fashion Roundtable is pleased to announce that it has held several evidence sessions, webinars and external events on representation and inclusion in the fashion industry.

In the first of Eden Loweth's monthly Op-Eds for Fashion Roundtable, our new ambassador asks - in an industry infamous for its exhausting pace and pressurised reality, how can we support and protect its talent and their minds?

Black Friday perpetuates a myth of boundless resources— all supported by exploitative and environmentally damaging business models, particularly in the fashion industry. However, the retail sector and morale are in need of a boost. Can these apparently divergent concerns be reconciled?

Fashion Roundtable ambassadors are individuals working across the industry whose ethics and values align with our own.

This bulletin provides the latest information for employers and businesses on coronavirus (COVID-19). All coronavirus business support information can be found at gov.uk/business-support.

The UK has left the EU, and the transition period after Brexit comes to an end this year. Take action now to get ready for new rules from January 2021.

New research shows that disabled people have been severely overlooked during the pandemic — despite reassurances that people with disabilities wouldn’t be disproportionately impacted. It’s clear that we must deliver a more comprehensive and individualised strategy for disabled people during the pandemic to ensure they are protected and receiving the vital support they need.

From styling to illustration and fashion design, Desislava Todorova speaks to three young creatives about how our imminent departure from the EU is affecting their work; and how they imagine life in the UK post-Brexit.