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Time To Reinvent British Manufacturing…Katharine Hamnett Speaks Out At Pure

11-02-2025   


Outspoken activist and iconic fashion designer Katharine Hamnett took to the main stage at the Pure London trade event yesterday (10th February 2019) and called out Government, policy makers, and big businesses for being complicit in the poverty of millions of farmers and workers worldwide. Her solution…to insist on the same standard for all products created outside the EU as inside, and to reinvent British manufacturing. With transparency, authenticity and accountability at the core of FashionCapital’s business ethos we couldn’t agree more.

Katharine spoke to a packed audience filled with fashion industry professionals on Day 1 of the bi-annual trade event held at Olympia in London. She said:

“In the 1980’s no-one knew there was anything wrong with the fashion industry. That has changed now, a lot of brands are changing, but a lot aren’t. Brands are unwilling because it puts up their costs. But consumer power is forcing the issue now. My overall solution is to insist on the same standards from goods outside the EU as the standards set inside the EU or they aren’t allowed in. It would create a level playing field, help clean up the environment, would mean the same health and safety and labour standards, and also make the EU more competitive.”

She added that more needs to be done to re-industrialise the UK citing that our natural resources, renewable energy and embracing new technology could make Britain great again.

“We can start again as a manufacturing country. We need to start from scratch but do it completely sustainably, change the old business model and unnecessary profit making. But this must come from the top, it is the responsibility of the CEO’s and boards of directors to make the changes. Businesses need to be arm-wrestled by legislation, we’ve had 30-years of choice and now we need laws.”

Wearing her infamous ‘Second Referendum Now’ slogan t-shirt, Katherine caused a stampede when she give them away for free to the audience.

Day two at Pure London will continue the debate with a fashion roundtable on sustainability, a discussion on Brand DNA with Professor Caryn Franklin, and environmental expert Lucy Siegle in conversation with Chair of the Environmental Audit Committee into fast fashion, Mary Creagh MP.

Made in the UK fashion is a viable option as our very own SMETA and Fast Forward audited Factory based in North London can prove. You can make ethical, affordable production in the UK! Want to find out more about Factory Uncovered and our other factory open days  contact: info@fashioncapital.co.uk

Pure London and Pure Origin takes place at London Olympia from the 10th – 12th February 2019. Visit www.purelondon.com




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