The UK Designer Fashion Economy

The UK Designer Fashion Economy highlights how innovative small firms function, and the barriers they face to growth.

The UK Designer Fashion Economy highlights how innovative small firms function, and the barriers they face to growth.

Key findings

  • The UK designer fashion economy comprises many micro and small businesses that generate significant media attention, but whose growth is impeded by lack of finance
  • The relationship between designers and manufacturers is often international. These relationships tend to be the most problematic of all the sector’s business relationships
  • Designers’ relationships with retailers are often easier, but there are still challenges and barriers inhibiting growth
  • The report’s recommendations include working to reverse the shortage of high-level skills across the industry and developing investor relationships and investment readiness with designers

 

Innovation is central to the fashion design process. The ability of UK designers to transcend creative boundaries and draw inspiration from across disciplines has helped transform the UK industry, and London in particular, into one of the major global fashion markets. The fashion industry is a key part of the UK's brand.

 

Sustaining the UK fashion industry is the formation and growth of new designer fashion enterprises. New research by the Centre for Fashion Enterprise has shed light on how these innovative small firms function, and on the barriers they face to growth.

 

However, the recession is likely to have a sharp impact on the sector and if the UK designer fashion economy is to retain its cutting edge, effective policy intervention is vital.

 

Author

Dr Neri Karra