\n
\n
\n
<\/p>\n
“British fashion is one of our greatest cultural exports, yet for too long participation has been concentrated in too few places, ” BFC Chief Executive Laura Weir.<\/p>\n
\t\t
<\/p>\n “Fashion Britain is about decentralising fashion, not by diminishing London\u2019s global importance, but by recognising that the future of British creativity depends on strengthening the connections between every part of the UK.”\u00a0<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n Weir further highlighted that the new programme “represents a fundamental shift” in the role of the of the BFC, and that it sees its responsibility “to champion creativity wherever it exists”.\u00a0<\/p>\n \t\t
The programme builds on the BFC\u2019s City Wide Celebration format<\/a>, which previously brought designer talks, cultural activity and retail activations to cities including Liverpool, Manchester and Newcastle. It also follows the pilot launch of Fashion Assembly, which takes fashion education into schools.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n The BFC is also expanding its designer support. Its reworked NEWGEN programme now offers longer-term funding<\/a>, infrastructure, mentorship and industry access, while the BFC\/GQ Designer Fashion Fund provides its winner with \u00a3100,000<\/a> and year-long mentoring.<\/p>\n
Fashion Britain arrives nine days after Andy Burnham became Prime Minister, bringing his focus on spreading employment across the country into government. Burnham has called for \u201cgood growth in every postcode\u201d<\/a> and pledged to reform business rates, support high streets and distribute jobs more widely.<\/p>\n
The implications extend beyond fashion\u2019s creative workforce. Across the UK, retail provides jobs for 2.8 million people, and according to the British Retail Consortium (BRC), businesses in the sector have taken on \u00a36.5 billion in extra employment costs since 2024.<\/p>\n
The BRC\u2019s Buy into Retail Manifesto<\/a> has called for lower employment costs for young workers, business rates reform, competitive electricity prices and greater investment in retail locations.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n The Council’s announcement coincides with Fashion Roundtable and other\u00a0UK fashion industry signatories calling on Andy Burnham to introduce onshoring requirements for public-sector textiles<\/a>, beginning with NHS and defence uniforms.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n The open letter, published on this week, asks for a meeting before the government finalises its Number 10 North initiative. Signatories include presenter and Buffalo Systems co-owner Ben Fogle, alongside representatives from the fashion and textiles sector.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n The wider UK fashion and textiles industry contributes \u00a362 billion to GDP and supports 1.3 million jobs, according to figures cited in the letter. These totals cover the broader sector rather than domestic garment manufacturing alone.<\/p>\n
![\"\"\/](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/britain\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/MOB-POPUNDER-300-x-250-px-20.gif\")
<\/a><\/p>\n![\"\"\/](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/britain\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/Pop-Under-19.gif\")
<\/a><\/p>\n
\n
\n
\n
<\/p>\n
\n
\n
\n
\nRegional growth becomes a policy priority
\n
\n
\n
<\/p>\n
\n
\n
\n
<\/p>\n
\n
\n
\n
<\/p>\n
\n
\n
\n
\nBurberry points to fashion\u2019s national footprint
\n
\n
\n
<\/p>\n