Former ASOS buyer-turned-MP leads parliamentary debate on London Fashion Week’s cultural impact
Ahead of London Fashion Week, a first-of-its-kind debate on the event's cultural impact was held in Parliament, led by former ASOS buyer Rosie Wrighting, now the Labour MP for Kettering.
The Westminster Hall debate took place on Tuesday 16 September, focussing on London Fashion Week's role in shaping the UK's cultural influence, its economic contribution, and the challenges and opportunities facing designers and businesses across Britain.
Opening the debate, Wrighting reflected on her own experience in the industry, explaining how the ambition to work in fashion gave her purpose - from retail roots at Topshop to a buying role at ASOS.
"That belief that creativity can be a path forward is something that London Fashion Week represents to me and thousands of young people across the country who see that opportunity to be a part of something bigger than themselves," explained Wrighting.
However, she expressed concern that fashion is becoming increasingly inaccessible to those from less privileged backgrounds.
"We must ensure that fashion remains a viable career for young people, particularly those who are outside of London and in working-class communities. That means making it easier for designers and brands to scale up their businesses without being forced to sell early or relocate abroad," she said.
"It means providing stronger financial education and mentoring for young creatives, so that talent is matched with tools to build sustainable businesses, and it means tackling unfair payment practices because too many freelancers, small brands and suppliers wait months to be paid, making it impossible for them to grow or sometimes even survive."
Wrighting emphasised the crucial role the British Fashion Council plays in championing British brands and designers.
"London Fashion Week keeps the door open for new voices, providing a shared space, mentoring and practical support for new-gen designers. For many designers, such as Christopher Kane and JW Anderson, who are now some of the biggest names in the industry, it serves as a launchpad. The British Fashion Council and the Department for Culture, Media and Sport support their talent to grow into a business, helping so many designers get their first break here in the UK.
"I could not talk about the British Fashion Council without mentioning decisions made by the new Chief Executive Laura Weir [who also attended the debate] to scrap fees, levelling the playing field for independent designers and small brands that had been priced out of participating in recent years.
"Her choice to extend the NEWGEN programme for three years and expand scholarship funding and mentoring for fashion students will directly benefit children who grew up in situations such as mine.
"These changes will undoubtedly support working-class creatives in this space, but they will also influence an industry that is fundamentally better off when there are working-class voices within it," she added.
"A wide variety of voices have made fashion week what it is: an opportunity to bring together different cultures and lived experiences, especially in a week in which London has faced division on our streets. London Fashion Week shows off British values, culture and inclusivity at their best. At a time like this, that should be celebrated."
Wrighting also highlighted the role of London Fashion Week in driving innovation in sustainability - noting its potential to deliver long-term benefits for the wider fashion industry.
"Fashion has a responsibility to make creativity sustainable. Designers are experimenting with recycled fabrics, circularity, digital presentation and harnessing some of the benefits of artificial intelligence. The result is innovation that is cultural as well as technical. London Fashion Week is an opportunity for Britain to lead not just in fashion but in cultural responsibility," she shared.
London Fashion Week returns from September 18-22, and this season the schedule feels more like a reset.
For Laura Weir, who steps into her first season of LFW as CEO of the British Fashion Council (BFC), the week is not just a series of runway shows but "the beginning of a new era". Her vision, anchored in accessibility, cultural resonance and global visibility, is already reshaping one of Europe’s most important fashion capitals.
This season’s runway calendar is packed with heritage brands, as well as spotlighting some fearless newcomers.
Burberry, Simone Rocha, Emilia Wickstead and Erdem return, while Roksanda marks her 20th anniversary with a show certain to celebrate the architect of colour and form.
There’s also experimentation, with some designers testing out new ways to present their collections. Irish designer JW Anderson will stage a "special evening event" in place of a runway show, reflecting a shift in the way brands build cultural worlds.
The BFC’s NEWGEN programme promises another electric season of emerging names too, with Aaron Esh, Johanna Parv and Karoline Vitto leading the charge.
"London Fashion Week reflects who we are, and it shows the world that Britain is and will remain a nation of innovation, artistry and resilience. It cements Britain’s position as a global leader in fashion, and strengthens the UK’s soft power. It is a beacon for the very best of our creativity, craftsmanship and bold innovation," concluded Wrighting.
"From Vivienne Westwood to John Galliano, Aaron Esh and Simone Rocha, from Savile Row to the rise of grime and contemporary streetwear, fashion in Britain crosses into art, theatre, subculture and politics. If we do not tackle the current challenges, we risk losing some of the very talent that makes Britain a leading name in international fashion.
"Fashion brings so much to the UK, but unless it is correctly supported, we risk losing incredible talent."
