Following the announcement of Fashion Britain earlier this month, the British Fashion Council today unveils a nationwide programme of more than 1,000 events across Manchester, Dundee, London, Edinburgh, Liverpool, Newcastle and Bristol, marking the next phase of its landmark initiative to decentralise British fashion.
Developed as part of the BFC’s Strategy 2030: Access, Creativity and Growth, Fashion Britain will celebrate the breadth of British creativity through a series of public designer panels, cultural activations, retail experiences, exhibitions and live performances, celebrating the wealth of talent that has emerged across the UK.
The programme brings together leading cultural institutions, galleries and creative organisations across the UK, with flagship events taking place at V&A Dundee (Scotland), The National Gallery (London), BALTIC Centre for Contemporary Art (Newcastle), Walker Art Gallery (Liverpool), Manchester Art Gallery, M Shed (Bristol) and East Bank (London). From exhibitions and immersive cultural experiences to collaborations with The Warehouse Project in celebration of their 20th anniversary (Manchester), Chelsea Arts Festival (London) and The Music is Black festival (London), Fashion Britain celebrates the intersection of fashion, art, music and culture in every host city.
British designers are at the heart of the programme, with leading names including Patrick McDowell, Charles Jeffrey, Nicholas Daley, Saul Nash, Clio Peppiatt, Barbour, Genevieve Devine and J.L-A.L taking part in the BFC x ELLE UK Nationwide Designer Panel series. Designers will also lead a series of exclusive activations, from immersive Westfield experiences curated by Tolu Coker, Priya Ahluwalia and Charles Jeffrey to Saul Nash’s Masquerade in Residence, alongside further events from Rejina Pyo, JW Anderson, Simone Rocha and more.
Kenya Hunt, editor in chief, ELLE UK, added: “ELLE UK is committed to championing British talent, and we’re extremely excited to partner with the British Fashion Council on the National Designer Panel series.
“By staging conversations with leading designers who have strong ties to each city, we aim to celebrate the breadth of creativity across the UK and inspire the next generation who will help shape the future of the industry.”
Also part of month-long celebration, the Kurt Geiger Kindness Foundation will introduce Business by Design Online, a new free digital learning course designed to make fashion knowledge accessible to everyone.
Laura Weir, Chief Executive, British Fashion Council says: “British fashion has always been shaped by creativity found across the nation, and it’s vital that we recognise, celebrate and invest in that talent wherever it exists. Fashion Britain is about decentralising fashion, by creating stronger pathways for creativity, opportunity and growth in every part of the country. We are excited to partner with leading cultural institutions who are integral to the growth of the creative industries to build a stronger, more connected future for British fashion.”
Ciara Solmi, Director of Marketing & Communications, Northern Europe, Unibail-Rodamco-Westfield: “Few places bring fashion closer to more people than Westfield destinations, and we’re so proud to partner with the British Fashion Council to launch Fashion Britain, supporting new opportunities, championing emerging talent and helping creativity thrive right across the UK. This September, our Westfield Days event will connect millions of consumers across Westfield London and Stratford City, as well as in Edinburgh at the newly rebranded Westfield St James Quarter, with the best of British design showcasing the importance of music as a catalyst in their creative journeys.”
Fashion Britain ultimately aims to strengthen local creative economies, inspire and develop the next generation of fashion talent, and create lasting pathways for designers and creatives to build sustainable careers within their own cities, ensuring the economic and cultural impact of British fashion is felt across the UK.
CONFIRMED PROGRAMME HIGHLIGHTS (with more to be announced)
MANCHESTER
- BFC x ELLE UK National Designer Panel at Manchester Art Gallery featuring Aitor Throup and Richard Gilmore (Managing Director, Fred Perry), moderated by Naomi Pike, Commissioning Editor, ELLE UK
- Exclusive 20 years of The Warehouse Project collaboration event
- The House of Fashion at The Trafford Centre, a curated week of Autumn-Winter dressing, styling tips, seasonal inspiration and exclusive behind-the-scenes lines
SCOTLAND
- BFC x ELLE UK National Designer Panel at V&A Dundee featuring Nicholas Daley and Charles Jeffrey
- Showcases Catwalk: The Art of the Fashion Show exhibition at V&A Dundee
- St James Quarter, which will be rebranded as Westfield St James Quarter this September, partners with Charles Jeffrey to create an immersive listening rooms experience with live music, designer talks, workshops, archive displays, and exclusive retail pop-up
LONDON
- 7pm on 21 September: BFC x ELLE UK National Designer Panel at the National Gallery featuring Saul Nash, Clio Peppiatt and Luke Derrick, moderated by Kenya Hunt, Editor-in-Chief, ELLE UK.
- Immersive fashion and music experiences at Westfield London and Westfield Stratford City, curated by Tolu Coker and Priya Ahluwalia.
- The Music Is Black Festival at East Bank, Black to the Future, curated by FLOHIO and The Blues Project.
- Saul Nash’s Masquerade in Residence at The Truman Brewery.
- The Chelsea Arts Festival will unite the worlds of culture and fashion in a shared celebration of British creative excellence.
- Further events from Rejina Pyo, JW Anderson, MAX & Co x Paloma le Friant, Harris Reed x Missoma, Simone Rocha x Harvey Nichols.
LIVERPOOL
- 7pm on 21 September: BFC x ELLE UK National Designer Panel at Walker Art Gallery featuring Patrick McDowell and Talia Byre, moderated by Tamison O’Connor, Fashion Features Director, ELLE UK.
- Liverpool ONE will host in-store activations, exclusive offers, competitions and interactive experiences. The centre will also launch a competition giving one talented local artist the opportunity to design a fashion-inspired wrap for the iconic Liverpool sign on Thomas Steers Way.
- Beyond the Rail by All Over the Shop, an immersive fashion experience celebrating Liverpool’s independent fashion community and the people behind it.
NEWCASTLE
- 3pm on 26 September: BFC x ELLE UK National Designer Panel at Baltic Centre for Contemporary Art featuring Genevieve Devine and Ian Bergin, Director of Menswear, Barbour, moderated by Chiara Wilkinson, Deputy Multiplatform Editor, ELLE UK.
- Newcastle Future Heritage student showcase at Grainger Market in partnership with Newcastle Council, Eldon Square, Newcastle College and Fenwick (date TBC).
BRISTOL
- 7pm on 29 September: BFC x ELLE UK National Designer Panel at M Shed featuring J.L-A.L’s Jean-Luc Ambridge Lavelle, moderated by Lena De Casparis, Deputy Editor, ELLE UK.
- Martin Parr Foundation street photography competition with guest judge Niall McDiarmid, with entries open until 13 September.
