New era for East London fashion as new Fashion District launches

By

Barbara Santamaria

Published
Sep 12, 2018

London’s new Fashion District in East London was launched this week at designer Christopher Raeburn’s studio in Hackney, with MP Stephen Timms, BFC CEO Caroline Rush and LCF head Frances Corner in attendance.

The project, developed over four years, is part of a wide ranging collaboration between several fashion colleges and collectives, the British Fashion Council, the Mayor of London, London Legacy Development Corporation, Unibail Rodamco-Westfield, Poplar Harca and the London boroughs of Hackney, Haringey, Newham, Waltham Forest and Tower Hamlets.

The new Fashion District will create business opportunities, workspaces and technology boost for the fashion and manufacturing industry in East London.  New and affordable fashion studios will open at The Trampery Fish Island near the Olympic Park, while the opening of London College of Fashion’s new campus in Stratford in 2022 will provide a new fashion education hub.

Ads

The project is expected to generate more than 15,000 new jobs and support industry growth through training and access to new manufacturing technology such as 3D printing, laser cutting, interactive and wearable fabrics and design software.

“London needs to act now if it wants to stay at the forefront of the fashion tech revolution. Emerging businesses only grow with significant support in skills, advocacy, innovation and investment. That’s what the Fashion District will bring,” said Professor Frances Corner, head of the London College of Fashion.

“I am particularly delighted the London Boroughs of Hackney, Newham, Haringey, Tower Hamlets and Waltham Forest have pledged their support. Working with London Boroughs will accelerate the development of space and business support for SMEs and attracting light manufacturing to east London.”

According to a survey commissioned by the University of Arts London, the east end is currently home to 23% of London’s fashion businesses.