Key findings:

1. Discrimination pervades the fashion industry

2. The fashion industry is missing out on potential revenue

3. Sustained structural change is needed

4. The industry is segregated

5. Leadership needs to accept the situation and change accordingly

Gone are the days where black models will have to bring their own hair styling tools and style themselves – so we hope. After a recent review by the National Occupational Standards for hairdressing, Afro and ‘Textured’ hair has been included into the styling and cutting practice standard. This means all UK hairdressers will now have to be trained in cutting and styling Afro-textured hair. But how effective will this change will really be for black women? asks Davina Appiagyei.

Norway has made it illegal for influencers and advertisers to share promotional photos online without disclosing whether the images have been retouched. With countries like France and Israel already under similar laws for commercial images, there is a call amongst MPs that the UK should follow suit. Notably, Conservative MP Dr Luke Evans, brought this in front of parliament in September last year. It is thought that 1.25 million people in the UK suffer with an eating disorder and a ban like this would be a welcome move in the UK.

In less than a century, the bustling network of 217 mills spread across Wales has drastically diminished to just 8 mills. The closure of the global markets due to Covid restrictions has now resulted in a 50 per cent decline in wool auction prices. For many, the costs of shearing the sheep, packing and shipping the fleeces has far outweighed their financial return. Consequently, wool has either been composted, or burned. Here we explore how the Welsh woollen industry— with the right support— offers huge potential. As a sustainable, luxury product, it can be produced entirely in this country, creating much-needed jobs for local communities and financial return to the economy.

Digital fashion leverages technology to produce hyper-realistic, non-physically wearable apparel. Digital apparel is ideal for the growing one-time wearing trend. The target consumers for digital fashion are the Gen Zs and young millennials who spend most of their time in the virtual world. They are strongly fashion-conscious and do not wish to own widely available clothes.

A formal meeting (oral evidence session) was held by Government about EU visa arrangements for creative workers. Tamara Cincik, Fashion Roundtable's Founder and CEO, outlined the challenges of working within the EU following the post-Brexit trade deal at this session hosted by the DCMS Select Committee.

Resale and new rental platforms are not just a sign of the times, but strong viable future business model for fashion. What are the opportunities and challenges that lie ahead in these retail formats and how does traditional retail fit in amongst them? asks Bev Malik

Together with cult IG platform Fashion Assistants, Fashion Roundtable have lobbied Bectu, to organise this new division for stylists and fashion assistants, hosting events, collating survey data and sharing insights, many of them highlighting non or late payment issues, as well as systemic malpractice, which with union support can now be eradicated from the fashion industry.
Image: FOX

Small businesses have faced myriad issues since Brexit — from shipping delays, to a dramatic rise in shipping costs and mountainous paperwork. A key issue is that any goods now entering the EU must satisfy rules of origin requirements. This problem is pertinent to the fashion and textiles industry, as goods incorporate inputs from multiple origins. These issues and costs alike have meant that many small businesses are now considering setting up distributing centres in the EU, at the cost of UK jobs and loss of taxes to our economy, which is entirely averse to Brexit’s goal.

“I couldn’t have picked a worse time to apply for citizenship. The global pandemic caused a huge setback in all bureaucratic procedures and the new measures made me feel that I would never progress to the next step. After applying for my settled status almost two years ago, I had to wait for another 12 months to start the process. Back then, the idea of Brexit seemed like a faint and distant prospect.” writes Desislava Todorova.

The Trade and Cooperation Agreement (TCA) may have been signed off by both the UK and EU, but the aftershocks of Brexit are not over; especially when it comes to fashion. As the latest Brexit impact report from Fashion Roundtable has shown, there is still plenty to mull over on the economical and social implications of Brexit for the UK’s fashion retail and textiles industry.