london – After a two-year hiatus, the British Fashion Council was meeting with the prime minister at 10 Downing Street earlier this week – and even secured a funding promise of millions.
Addressing a crowd of government and business executives and industry figures including Anya Hindmarch, Holly Rogers, Jonathan Ackroyd and Stephen Jones, Prime Minister Boris Johnson not only pledged £80 million in green funding for fashion, he Also said the check was on the way.
While his statement left some government aides in sweat, the BFC said the money had been long in coming and that years of negotiations with British officials were over.
BFC will use the funding to establish a 10-year fashion industry sustainable change program. It aims to “create a world-leading, circular fashion ecosystem with innovation and creativity front and center.”
will be the first to participate in the Sustainable Change Program, The industry-led Center of Excellence, which will be housed within the BFC’s Positive Fashion Institute.
The Center of Excellence will convene industry leaders such as designers, retailers, manufacturers, academia and trade organisations, including UK Fashion & Textiles and the British Retail Consortium.
The BFC said the programme, which will cost around £80 million, aims to improve the local “ecosystem” with a focus on recycling, innovation and new, circular business models.
“Imagine, 10 years from now, a city like Leeds retaining its role as an important part of the fashion and textile industry and [setting] An example of a circular city with reprocessing plants, and active high streets with takeback plans where product is broken down, re-spun and made to make new clothes,” says Stephanie Fair, BFC President he said.
She said that Leeds can be a city, “with an inclusive and diverse workforce, with new skills and learning opportunities. It’s not a pipe dream – elements of this are already being seen around the world – we can bring this expertise together and make it a reality for the UK,” said Fair.
She also noted that, to date, the British fashion industry has not relied on government intervention, but the fashion industry and government now need to work together to tackle climate change.
Underscoring the urgency of the project, Fair said 4 billion items were purchased in the UK alone in 2019, up from around 80 billion globally. She said at least 60 percent will never be recycled.
“The fashion industry is a big part of the problem, so we need to be a big part of the solution. We need to address how we design, source, produce, ship, market products, store and deal with the waste that currently exists. Goes to landfills,” Fair said.
Johnson, who escaped a vote of no-confidence in parliament earlier this week, and whose career has been tarnished by allegations of corruption and rule-breaking during the lockdown, said the economy and “brand Britain” have a big role in fashion. contribution. ,
“I am delighted to be supporting this wonderful industry as it moves forward with a 10-year programme, which brings opportunities across the UK to fulfill our Government Climate Action Plan for Environmental and Social Change,” he said. Told the crowd which included his wife Carrie and his. Two young children, Wilf and Romy.
Originally published at Pen 18
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