London Fashion Week: More Than Just Clothes | UK's Cultural Powerhouse

This episode explores the huge cultural and economic impact of London Fashion Week. LFW is more than just a runway show. It’s a launchpad for new designers, a driver of billions for the economy, and a platform for social change. We'll cover how LFW champions sustainability, inclusivity through adaptive fashion, and inspires young creative talent across the UK, securing Britain's place as a global leader in innovation.

Key Takeaways

• Economic Powerhouse: The UK fashion industry adds tens of billions to the economy and supports nearly 900,000 jobs. London Fashion Week alone generates over £100 million in overseas orders.
• Nurturing Talent: LFW is crucial for launching new designers' careers through the British Fashion Council's NEWGEN programme, which supports diverse talent from all across the UK.
• Social Leadership: The event leads on social values by promoting sustainability, banning fur, and championing inclusivity with innovations like adaptive fashion for people with disabilities.
• National Inspiration: LFW shows young people from all backgrounds and regions—from Wales to Northern Ireland—that a successful creative career is possible.

Definitions and Concepts

• Adaptive Fashion: Clothing designed for individuals with disabilities or limited mobility, featuring modifications like magnetic fastenings or velcro to make independent dressing easier.
• NEWGEN Programme: An initiative by the British Fashion Council that provides funding, mentoring, and a platform to support the UK's best emerging fashion designers.

Discussion: The sources highlight the challenge of keeping fashion accessible to people from working-class backgrounds. How can the fashion industry and government better support aspiring creatives from all corners of the UK to ensure talent, not privilege, is the key to success?

Source: London Fashion Week: Cultural Contribution
Volume 772: debated on Tuesday 16 September 2025

Transcript

Amy: 0:00

Thank you. Hello and welcome again to The Bench Report, where we discuss recent debates and briefings from the benches of the UK Parliament. A new topic every episode. You're listening to Amy and Ivan. So today we're looking at some parliamentary briefings about London Fashion Week. It just had its 41st showcase, which is quite something.

Ivan: 0:22

It really is. And I think the key thing that comes through is that, well, beyond the catwalk clamor, LFW is this huge engine for growth, creativity.

Amy: 0:31

And social change, too, it seems.

Ivan: 0:33

Exactly. And its reach goes way beyond London, right across the UK.

Amy: 0:37

Let's maybe start with the economics, because the figures are pretty staggering.

Ivan: 0:42

They are. The sector adds, what, over 60 billion a year?

Amy: 0:45

Yeah, 60 billion, and supports nearly 900,000 jobs, almost a million people.

Ivan: 0:51

But it's not just the size, is it? It's the growth rate.

Amy: 0:54

Right. The briefings highlighted that, growing one and a half times faster than the wider UK economy.

Ivan: 0:59

Which suggests it's punching well above its ways. It's acting like a sort of economic multiplier.

Amy: 1:03

And And that economic impact isn't just confined to the capital.

Ivan: 1:06

No, absolutely not. They mentioned this citywide celebration initiative.

Amy: 1:10

Ah, yes. Pushing it out to other cities.

Ivan: 1:12

And with real results. Liverpool won, for instance.

Amy: 1:15

What happened there?

Ivan: 1:16

They saw a 14% uplift in sales during their event. 14%.

Amy: 1:21

Wow. That's significant.

Ivan: 1:23

And they pulled in a quarter of a million visitors. Just for that specific city event, it shows LFW's footprint is tangible in regional retail hubs.

Amy: 1:32

And we shouldn't forget the heritage aspect either.

Ivan: 1:35

Definitely not. Manchester's textile history is foundational.

Amy: 1:39

And Welsh designers, too. Laura Ashley, Julian McDonald, they've had a huge influence.

Ivan: 1:43

Absolutely. Part of that national picture.

Amy: 1:45

Okay, so if it supports almost a million jobs, the next logical question is, where does the talent come from? How do people get in?

Ivan: 1:53

Well, there's that great anecdote about Lee McQueen.

Amy: 1:55

Son of a taxi driver.

Ivan: 1:57

Literally had to knock on the door at Central Saint Martins. It shows that, you know, raw talent and determination can break through, regardless of background.

Amy: 2:06

But is that still the case? I mean, the British Fashion Council recently had to scrap participation fees for smaller brands. Does that suggest it's getting harder?

Ivan: 2:14

There are definitely cost challenges, no doubt. That's why investment in arts education and apprenticeships is so crucial, something the briefings touched on.

Amy: 2:22

So what are they doing about it?

Ivan: 2:24

Well, the BFC, under the new CEO Laura Weir, didn't just scrap those fees. They also extended the new GN program for three years.

Amy: 2:32

Ah, new GN. That's the support scheme for emerging designers.

Ivan: 2:35

Precisely. It provides direct financial grants, mentoring. It's specifically designed to help ensure that talented working class creatives aren't priced out right at the start. A vital pipeline.

Amy: 2:48

Moving on slightly, LFW seems to be setting trends not just in clothes, but in ethics as well.

Ivan: 2:54

Very much so. He was one of the first big fashion weeks to ban fur.

Amy: 2:57

And now exotic animal skins too, like snake and crocodile.

Ivan: 3:00

Yes, they ban those now as well. It really signifies signals a leadership position on responsibility, the cultural statement.

Amy: 3:07

And that connects to a bigger picture, doesn't it? This push for inclusivity and sustainability.

Ivan: 3:12

Absolutely. On the inclusivity front, you're seeing this real rise in adaptive fashion.

Amy: 3:17

Clothing designed for people with disabilities or chronic pain.

Ivan: 3:21

Yes. Things like easier fastenings, zips, magnets, simple design changes that can make a huge difference to someone's daily life if they have mobility challenges.

Amy: 3:30

Are there specific examples?

Ivan: 3:32

Victoria Jenkins' label. unhidden, debuted a collection. And it's filtering through to the high street, too.

Amy: 3:37

Oh, really? Who's picking it up?

Ivan: 3:39

Primark, M&S, Asda. They're all starting to incorporate adaptive features. It's becoming more mainstream.

Amy: 3:48

And sustainability. That feels like a huge topic now.

Ivan: 3:51

It is. LSW is actually the first of the big four fashion weeks to mandate sustainability requirements for brands showing there.

Amy: 3:57

And Vogue is involved, too, with their Vogue values.

Ivan: 4:01

Right. Focusing on things like circularity responsibilities But what's really interesting is seeing politicians getting involved. How so? MPs are actually, you know, publicly talking about buying pre-loved clothes on platforms like Vinted and eBay.

Amy: 4:13

To reduce landfill waste.

Ivan: 4:15

Exactly. It shows that conscious consumption, the circular economy, it's moved from the fringes right into mainstream economic and cultural thinking.

Amy: 4:24

So LFW isn't just about fashion then?

Ivan: 4:26

Not at all. It functions as this powerful cultural ambassador, really, showcasing British innovation, art, and maybe resilience. A fascinating

Amy: 4:35

look beyond the runway. As always, find us on social media at Bench Report UK. Get in touch with any topic important to you. Remember, politics is everyone's business. Take care.