"London has always been a torchbearer and champion of the brightest young talent, acting as a springboard for a huge portion of the world’s most talented designers to grow and become international names. But now as we look to the future and a return to a new normal, we must safeguard and support our young talent..."

Amy Nguyen, Founder and Editor of Sustainable & Social, explores the current fashion gaming landscape and weighs in on its power to encourage sustainable practices. Through recent brand case studies and a discussion with fashion innovation specialist Marta Waydel, she examines the nexus between gamification and sustainability commitments.

Loungewear experienced a 322% increase in sales, after the first lockdown. But it’s occasionwear that is forecasted to rise exponentially. In fact, the State of Fashion 2021 Report suggests that categorically speaking, occasionwear will see the swiftest post-pandemic recovery.

Ultimately, the pandemic has gendered consequences, and industries must work harder to remove new and pre-existing barriers women face in the workplace. A damaging #shecession is avoidable if women are represented and invested in.

Rishi Sunak’s second budget seeks to lay the pathway for the UK economy’s exit from the stupor that the twin pressures the pandemic and Brexit have posed. In this briefing we highlight the main provisions relevant to the UK’s Fashion Industry and the businesses and workers that constitute it.

Nicola Simmons highlights some of the issues facing fashion retailers exporting and importing goods between the UK and EU and offers some practical points for affected businesses to consider.

Fashion Roundtable is holding a unity meeting on 1st March, at 11am-12pm GMT. This follows on from our meeting in January which led to our open letter to the Government, their reply, our follow up engagement. We will discuss the issues and the next steps.

On the 23rd of February 2021, the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS) added three documents to their website on the Agreement reached between the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and the European Union. Here, we summarise and analyse the content of these documents and highlight some resources pertaining to future trade with the European Union.

First rumoured back in July of last year, it’s been in the news again that the Treasury are considering a new online sales tax. But a simplistic approach to taxing online retailers creates very little of the desired outcome, and causes chaos for smaller businesses and start-ups that governments are usually so keen to support.

The latest Government updates for your businesses, members and supply chains, including some useful Brexit guidance and FAQs from HMRC below.

As the Covid-19 pandemic took hold last year, click & collect services exploded in popularity, as people were less inclined to spend time inside shops. Retailers with such a service tend to find that it's the fastest growing delivery option, and for those with store networks, up to 85% of customers will buy additional items when they collect their online order.

According to new data from Tyl by NatWest - where they explored purchasing habits during the pandemic – an estimated £7.2bn pounds was spent with local independent businesses in 2020. Clothing stores were ranked amongst the top 10 types of local business supported by UK consumers.

“Autumn / Winter 2021, entitled Ascension, marks a new dawn for ART SCHOOL, and indeed for myself as its creative director, my first full season alone. Ascension is a dystopian new view of the ART SCHOOL community, our place in the world and the relationships we form in trying times.”

Please see the latest Government updates including ongoing consultations and goods movement flowcharts. Email Fashion Roundtable at admin@fashionroundtable.co.uk is you have any questions or concerns.

This briefing note includes updates on the combined impact of Covid-19 and Brexit on the UK’s £35bn GDP fashion sector.