Theresa May celebrates UK fashion with LFW reception

By

Barbara Santamaria

Published
Sep 19, 2016

Prime Minister Theresa May highlighted London Fashion Week as one of the most influential fashion events in the world as she welcomed representatives of the British fashion industry to a reception at 10 Downing Street last week.

Guests included CEOs, entrepreneurs, creative directors and designers such as Christopher Bailey, Mary Katrantzou, Sophia Webster, Nicholas Kirkwood, Peter Pilotto and Christopher de Vos. Also apprentices from some of Britain’s leading fashion businesses were invited to the event, where Theresa May confirmed her Government‘s commitment to support apprentices in the fashion industry and beyond.

“British fashion is of huge importance to our country, contributing £28bn to the UK economy and supporting nearly 900,000 jobs. I was delighted to welcome representatives from across the industry to Downing Street ahead of London Fashion Week - which is one of the biggest and most influential fashion events in the world,” she said on Thursday.

“I am proud to say that our British fashion industry is a global leader in trade, creativity and innovation. The value of UK fashion exports was £5.8bn in 2015 with British brands such as Burberry, Alexander McQueen and Sophia Webster in demand by international markets including the USA, Japan, France and Italy.”
 
“From our home grown start-ups to international fashion houses – every business in the industry will play a major role in ensuring we make a success of Brexit. By taking advantage of the opportunities that leaving the EU gives us and playing to our strengths as a great trading nation - we can build a build a fairer economy that works for all, not just the privileged few,” she added.

The event was co-organised by Chairman of the British Fashion Council Dame Natalie Massenet, who commented: “This event was a sign of the ongoing value that the government places on our industry as we remain at the heart of the UK's future”.