London Fashion Week - Are we getting more sustainable?

On January 27, the British Fashion Council (BFC) shared some exciting news: they've landed extra funding from the UK government to help out with the London Fashion Week happening this week (from February 20 to 24, 2025). They have secured an additional one million pounds in funding from the UK government to back its BFC NewGen programme and support emerging designers.

What does this mean?

At least 60% of a collection must be made of preferred materials, deadstock fabric, or be certified, and not contain fur or wild animal skins.

This funding will go towards securing venues for the "BFC NEWGEN" designers during the fashion week which is normally considerably costly, covering some presentation costs, and offering business mentoring. It’s a big move to help designers tackle the tough economic climate and grow their businesses that often stop young emerging designers from showing at London Fashion Week, and I don’t know about you, but I personally feel that London out of the “Big 4” has lost it’s magic. So we do need young fresh energy thinking outside the box.

Caroline Rush CBE, the CEO of the BFC, pointed out how crucial it is to support designers in making smart decisions and to keep providing chances for them to showcase their work to UK and international media and retailers. Some brands are opting out of their London shows due to financial pressures, which shows just how important it is for designers to manage their budgets wisely.

I’m personally so excited by this, as more than 80% of textiles are discarded each year, often ending up in landfills or incinerators, so it is important for designers to be responsible for the items they are creating (often on such a huge scale). This new funding is set to be a game changer, helping to boost the impact of London Fashion Week and enhance its status on the global stage. My only question is…why does this not apply to EVERY designer? Not just NEWGEN? Let me know your thoughts!

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