Theresa May highlights importance of British fashion at LFW reception
Prime minister Theresa May hosted a reception at 10 Downing Street last night to kick off London Fashion Week and stressed the importance of the fashion industry to the British economy.
At the event, which was co-hosted by British Fashion Council chair, Dame Natalie Massenet, May said: "British fashion is of huge importance to our country, contributing £28bn to the UK economy and supporting nearly 900,000 jobs. I was delighted to welcome representatives from across the industry to Downing Street ahead of London Fashion Week - which is one of the biggest and most influential fashion events in the world."
Downing Street has traditionally held events to mark London Fashion Week since Gordon Brown was in office; Brown's wife Sarah began the tradition which was carried on by Samantha Cameron who, as an ambassador for the British Fashion Council, was also in attendance last night.
May, who is the first prime minister (as opposed to a prime minister's spouse) to officially host the event, brought about some changes by including some of British fashion's emerging talent on the guest list and pledged government support to help their careers.
"I was also pleased to welcome fashion apprentices, scholarship winners and graduate trainees who are the future of British fashion. The government I lead will do everything we can, including providing the right investment in training and skills, to help everyone, whatever people’s backgrounds, to go as far as their talents can take them," she said.
May also addressed the issue of Brexit (London Fashion Week is the first international trade event since the EU referendum in June) and stressed the importance of exporting British fashion. "I am proud to say that our British fashion industry is a global leader in trade, creativity and innovation. The value of UK fashion exports was £5.8bn in 2015 with British brands such as Burberry, Alexander McQueen and Sophia Webster in demand by international markets including the USA, Japan, France and Italy," she said,
“From our home grown start-ups to international fashion houses – every business in the industry will play a major role in ensuring we make a success of Brexit. By taking advantage of the opportunities that leaving the EU gives us and playing to our strengths as a great trading nation - we can build a build a fairer economy that works for all, not just the privileged few,” May concluded.
Dame Natalie said it had been a great honour to be hosted at 10 Downing Street and pointed out why this London Fashion Week is a landmark event, given it is the first that will show the true impact of the shift towards "see now buy now".
"This event was a sign of the ongoing value that the government places on our industry as we remain at the heart of the UK's future," she said. “Our designers continue to grow their businesses, embrace technology and innovate. In February, Burberry ignited the movement of "see now buy now" which was seen in New York and will now be seen in London.
"Our businesses are attracting audiences from 58 countries with further reach through live streamed catwalk shows to 180 countries taking the runways to a truly global audience. London is unique. It is a great place to live and work. It is a dynamic fashion, business, creative and cultural capital and we have no doubt we will show it at its best over the next few days,” she said.
In attendance at the reception were, among others, Burberry's Christopher Bailey, Nicholas Kirkwood, Sophia Webster and Mary Katrantzou as well as CEOs from major fashion brands and businesses. Also in attendance were apprentices from some of Britain’s leading fashion businesses including Charlotte Olympia, John Smedley, Private White VC and RA Smart Holdings, as well as British Fashion Council scholarship recipients and graduate traineeships from the Royal College of Art and Central St Martins.
May wore a white shirt from the Palmer//Harding capsule collection for John Lewis.
