British fashion brands fear eco-concious King Charles will strip royal warrants

800 British fashion brands have expressed fears of losing their royal warrants if they fail to convince eco-conscious King Charles of their green practices in an upcoming review. 

Earlier this year, King Charles officially took over the Kingdom when he was coronated in May. Since then, over 800 British firms that supply the royal households have expressed concerns about losing their royal warrants in the face of an upcoming review, which is set to take place within two years following the death of Queen Elizabeth II.

The esteemed warrant document, which allows firms to use the Royal Arms in their branding, is held by some of Britain’s most luxurious and exclusive garment makers, including household names Burberry, Barbour and Hunter.

However, industry insiders told The Times that fashion retailers are worried that having to prove their sustainability track records will be greater than ever under the new eco-conscious ruler.

A broader focus on sustainability in recent years presents the fashion industry - which the United Nations Environment Programme says accounts for more than a tenth of global emissions - with a whole host of upcoming challenges.

Paul Alger, the Director of International Affairs at the UK Fashion & Textile Association, told The Times: "They are all nervous because they recognise the power of the royal warrants and do not want to lose it.

"We are fairly confident that His Majesty will want to look at perhaps a little bit more in-depth detail on the sustainable and ethical practices of businesses that are given warrants than in the past... The King is very passionate about the built environment. He is also very passionate about agriculture, animal husbandry and farming."

Mr Alger added that brands relying heavily on exports to Asian countries would face a severe blow to their revenues if they lost their warrants.

Helen Brocklebank, the Chief Executive of Walpole, which represents Britain’s luxury goods sector, said: "My expectation is that he will carry the values that he held very dearly when the warrants were awarded for the Prince of Wales’s household because there was quite a rigorous sustainability process that brands had to go through regularly to maintain that warrant."

Ms Brocklebank, who advises the British government on trade, said that "internationally, the soft power of royalty sells like madness".