survey conducted by the British Fashion Council ahead of the referendum which found that 90% of fashion designers stated they would be voting remain. Additionally, Fashion Roundtable’s findings declare that 94% feel that fashion is underrepresented in UK politics, shedding light on the need for such a paper for an industry which brings in 15 times the amount the fishing industry, and yet has had significantly less airtime in parliament during the negotiations.
Leaving the EU has left British fashion retailers in a state of uncertainty. (Credit: Shutterstock)
Despite the resounding negative sentiment towards leaving the EU, the report instead focuses its attention on trying to lobby for an outcome in the best possible interest for the fashion and wider creative sector. British Prime Minister Theresa May’s recent speeches have given little hope for those wishing to stay in the single market, but Fashion Roundtable is still asking for the government to push for an agreement where no additional costs associated with the movement of people, or goods, between the UK and European countries are in place. Additionally, they are against restrictions on economic migration or a hard border for UK nationals moving within the Schengen area.
The non-profit organization fears that, if these terms are not agreed to, British companies and talent will become less competitive. The report highlights the examples of e-commerce companies who rely on the ease of goods coming into their warehouses and being easily shipped to customers who may consider moving their headquarters to elsewhere in Europe. On top of this, the vast number of freelance creatives who operate in fashion, and travel regularly as part of it, could be badly hit by visa fees and wait times, ultimately losing out on work to their EU peers.
While the loss of widely-known cultural initiatives such as European City of Culture will be keenly felt among the public, there are many more funds and bursaries behind the scenes which are currently helping to put the UK at the center of fashion innovation. The paper calls on the UK government to continue to make a financial contribution to these initiatives so that British organizations can apply for them. Concerns have been put forward about the halting of projects which are helping the urgent matter of building a more sustainable future for fashion, and exclusion from the Erasmus scheme which helps to bring talent from Europe to the UK’s creative universities.
E-commerce companies in the UK could be hit by increased import and export costs as a result of Brexit (Credit: CHRIS J RATCLIFFE/AFP/Getty Images)
It is this talent that many employers fear they will no longer attract and will struggle to retain. The document’s section on EU nationals’ right to stay in the UK wants to ensure the British government focuses on creating a welcoming and safe environment for those that currently live here, and those that will come in the future. These individuals are essential to the continued growth of the creative industry’s job market which is currently growing at four times the rate of the rest of the UK workforce.
“>
Ensuring that a £29bn industry has its voice heard in Brexit negotiations, the recently formed Fashion Roundtable has presented a white paper on the British fashion industry’s concerns which was discussed live on SHOWStudio today. With less than a year to go to finalize the deal, British-based companies are still facing huge uncertainty on the outcomes. Fashion Roundtable’s manifesto highlights three main areas that have particularly poignant implications for their sector: maintaining the single market, continuing involvement in EU cultural, educational, and business programmes and legal guarantees for EU nationals living in the UK.
The white paper propositions have been based upon a supporting survey gathered over three months in addition to roundtable events. While the number of survey participants has not been disclosed, a sample of the companies who responded are listed and include the Design Council, London College of Fashion, Showstudio, MatchesFashion.com, Vogue and the Victoria & Albert Museum. An overwhelming 80% of respondents said that they felt Brexit would be bad for fashion in the UK and EU. This echoes a survey conducted by the British Fashion Council ahead of the referendum which found that 90% of fashion designers stated they would be voting remain. Additionally, Fashion Roundtable’s findings declare that 94% feel that fashion is underrepresented in UK politics, shedding light on the need for such a paper for an industry which brings in 15 times the amount the fishing industry, and yet has had significantly less airtime in parliament during the negotiations.
Leaving the EU has left British fashion retailers in a state of uncertainty. (Credit: Shutterstock)
Despite the resounding negative sentiment towards leaving the EU, the report instead focuses its attention on trying to lobby for an outcome in the best possible interest for the fashion and wider creative sector. British Prime Minister Theresa May’s recent speeches have given little hope for those wishing to stay in the single market, but Fashion Roundtable is still asking for the government to push for an agreement where no additional costs associated with the movement of people, or goods, between the UK and European countries are in place. Additionally, they are against restrictions on economic migration or a hard border for UK nationals moving within the Schengen area.
The non-profit organization fears that, if these terms are not agreed to, British companies and talent will become less competitive. The report highlights the examples of e-commerce companies who rely on the ease of goods coming into their warehouses and being easily shipped to customers who may consider moving their headquarters to elsewhere in Europe. On top of this, the vast number of freelance creatives who operate in fashion, and travel regularly as part of it, could be badly hit by visa fees and wait times, ultimately losing out on work to their EU peers.
While the loss of widely-known cultural initiatives such as European City of Culture will be keenly felt among the public, there are many more funds and bursaries behind the scenes which are currently helping to put the UK at the center of fashion innovation. The paper calls on the UK government to continue to make a financial contribution to these initiatives so that British organizations can apply for them. Concerns have been put forward about the halting of projects which are helping the urgent matter of building a more sustainable future for fashion, and exclusion from the Erasmus scheme which helps to bring talent from Europe to the UK’s creative universities.
E-commerce companies in the UK could be hit by increased import and export costs as a result of Brexit (Credit: CHRIS J RATCLIFFE/AFP/Getty Images)
It is this talent that many employers fear they will no longer attract and will struggle to retain. The document’s section on EU nationals’ right to stay in the UK wants to ensure the British government focuses on creating a welcoming and safe environment for those that currently live here, and those that will come in the future. These individuals are essential to the continued growth of the creative industry’s job market which is currently growing at four times the rate of the rest of the UK workforce.
Let’s block ads! (Why?)
