Every London Fashion Week, we celebrate the incredible talent of up-and-coming and beloved British designers. Yet, ahead of this year’s LFW, sartorial think tank Fashion Roundtable have shone a light on a less glamorous side of the industry: NHS and defence uniform manufacturing. 

In response to the PPE failings of the Covid era during which the government’s own inquiry found that it wasted £10 billion of public money, Fashion Roundtable are calling for more British uniforms to be manufactured in the country for the purposes of economic growth and adequate safeguarding measures. 

This is the latest initiative from the leading think tank and consultancy, who represent industry professionals on the national stage by engaging in conversations with government representatives. As a not-for-profit and non-partisan organisation, Fashion Roundtable conducts research into social and environmental issues raised by its members who hail from academic, fashion, economic and policy backgrounds.

Following a collaborative report with the University of Birmingham’s Local Policy Partnership Innovation Hub, Fashion Roundtable crafted an open letter to the Prime Minister requesting a meeting regarding the future of British uniform contracts.

Highlighting the recent costly past of offshoring and other findings from the same Covid report which revealed that investment in Scottish PPE generated over £66 million of economic value, the letter called for contracts to be awarded to UK manufacturers who produce textiles onshore.  

Receiving over 1,200 signatures from key stakeholders in the NHS and fashion industry, the open letter was delivered to No. 10 with emphatic support by Fashion Roundtable’s leadership team. Speaking on the importance of contracts, Fashion Roundtable CEO Tamara Cincik highlighted that “Public procurement is the key to unlock vital business opportunities for UK manufacturers. This in turn would support the wider sector, as it would give businesses a vital lifeline in the stablisation of orders[…]”. 

As sparkling gowns, bold patterns and sculptural pieces grace the runway this LFW, Fashion Roundtable seek to capture the nation’s pride and interest in the country’s producers, spotlighting the practical ways this support can be channelled. With the launch of Chevalet Arts Club and Global Fashion Collective presenting its SS27 collection this Sunday, the many eyes on this glamorous industry this week can also be directed towards change.