Government to bolster London Fashion Week with continued funding

The British Fashion Council (BFC) has announced today that the government will continue to financially support London Fashion Week (LFW) as part of its aims to grow the ‘Creative Industries’.

LFW is one of the four global fashion weeks (along with New York, Paris and Milan), showcasing fashion businesses and creative start-ups. The government’s funding will enable the BFC to continue to amplify these businesses to a global audience as well as to host a city-wide celebration of fashion and culture.

The BFC has also confirmed that it will lead a Circular Fashion Innovation Network to accelerate creating a circular fashion system in the UK. In partnership with UKFT, it aims to convene industry leaders to accelerate the idea-harvesting needed to create a circular fashion system.

Through this network, UKFT will set in motion practical innovation and research projects to "boost the competitiveness of the UK fashion and textile industry".

Caroline Rush, Chief Executive of British Fashion Council, commented: "The British fashion industry leads in creativity and its founders and entrepreneurs are leading innovators in their field. However, in order to responsibly grow businesses at a time of great change requires platforms, support and co-ordination.

"We look forward to working with industry and government to support the UK in retaining its reputation as creative leaders in a global industry and to develop its ability to responsibly and collectively address how we accelerate to a leading Circular Fashion Eco-System in the UK."

The new programme has six areas of focus: recycling infrastructure, sustainable manufacturing, circular business models, novel technology, diverse and future-proof workforce and green growth.

Adam Mansell, CEO at UKFT, added: "Sustainable manufacturing and recycling infrastructure will be key drivers in the move to a circular fashion ecosystem here in the UK. We’re excited to work with the BFC to support our industry to connect, collaborate and share experiences to build the most resilient, sustainable and competitive sector for future generations."