LIVERPOOL.- Following the announcement of Fashion Britain, the British Fashion Council (BFC) unveils a nationwide programme of events that will bring the initiative to life in Liverpool and six other cities this September.
Developed as part of the BFC's Strategy 2030: Access, Creativity and Growth, Fashion Britain will celebrate the breadth of British creativity through a series of public designer conversations, cultural activations, retail experiences, exhibitions and live performances, celebrating the wealth of talent that has emerged across the UK.
Laura Weir, Chief Executive, British Fashion Council: "I am incredibly excited for the launch of Fashion Britain this September. British fashion has always been shaped by people - their local identities, global perspectives, creative disciplines and the communities that shape culture from the ground up. It’s vital that we recognise, celebrate and invest in talent wherever it exists across the UK. Fashion Britain is about decentralising fashion, by creating stronger pathways for creativity, opportunity and growth in every part of the country. That is why we are collaborating with leading cultural institutions, in Liverpool and beyond, alongside over 100 of our designer members to build a stronger, more connected future for British fashion."
Liverpool-born and raised designer Patrick McDowell and Warrington-born designer Talia Byre will take part in the BFC x ELLE UK National Designer Panel series at the Walker Art Gallery on 21st September. Moderated by ELLE UK's Fashion Features Director Tamison O'Connor, the talk will reflect on local cultural heritage and the impact the area had on their creative journey. The panel will be followed by a networking session to introduce pathways into the industry, with brands including Kurt Geiger who, as part of the Kurt Geiger Kindness Foundation, will launch on 1st September, Business by Design Online, a new free digital learning course designed to make fashion knowledge accessible to everyone.
Talia Byre: “I’m really excited to be joining British Fashion Council’s Fashion Britain programme and returning to Liverpool to share my experiences of building and growing my own label. Liverpool has always felt like an important part of my journey as well as the brand's history, so it feels particularly special to come back and connect with the next generation of designers, share what I’ve learnt along the way, and hopefully offer some encouragement and inspiration to those starting out.”
Patrick McDowell: “Growing up near Liverpool, it was always inspiring to see and explore fashion through the city's eyes. Liverpool has a strong and inspiring ability to dress up, which I loved from an early age. Returning to Liverpool with the British Fashion Council to share my love for the city and meet young people interested in fashion is a wonderful full circle moment and an opportunity I wish I'd had growing up. It's fantastic to recognise fashion's role around the country and support designers across the UK.”
Among the interactive and immersive experiences taking place in the city, Liverpool ONE will host in-store activations and exclusive offers. The centre will also launch a competition giving one talented artist the opportunity to design a fashion-inspired wrap for the iconic Liverpool sign on Thomas Steers Way. Beyond the Rail by All Over The Shop will celebrate Liverpool’s independent fashion community and the people behind it from live making and hands-on workshops to curated fashion, styling and interactive installations, visitors will be invited to step beyond the rail and become part of the creative process.
Bruce Finlay, Retail MD at Landsec, owner of Liverpool ONE: “Liverpool has long set its own agenda when it comes to fashion, music and culture, making it a natural home for Fashion Britain. Our partnership with the British Fashion Council builds on that creative energy, with art and self-expression at the heart of how we’re bringing the event to life at Liverpool ONE. Visitors will be able to experience a series of interactive installations across the destination, from a piano and giant magazine cover to a competition inviting people to reimagine our iconic Liverpool sign through a new design. It’s exactly the kind of partnership that keeps our destinations relevant, brings new experiences to our visitors and reinforces Liverpool’s position as one of the UK’s most exciting fashion and cultural cities.”
Kerry Williams, Head of Creative Partnerships, Walker Art Gallery, part of National Museums Liverpool: "Fashion has been a part of National Museums Liverpool’s collection for a very long time. We hold around 10,000 pieces of costume, from 18th century dress through to Vivienne Westwood, much of it given to us by people from or intrinsically connected to Liverpool, who wore it themselves. Working with the British Fashion Council puts that history in the same space as the designers shaping things now, and we are thrilled that National Museums Liverpool is part of Fashion Britain.”
By bringing together designers, retailers, cultural institutions, educators and creative partners, Fashion Britain showcases the richness of Britain's fashion ecosystem while building a more connected, accessible and geographically representative industry for the future. In the long term, Fashion Britain will strengthen local creative economies, inspire and develop the next generation of fashion talent, and create lasting pathways for designers and creatives to build sustainable careers within their own cities, ensuring the economic and cultural impact of British fashion is felt across the UK.
