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Why Should We Care About Fashion in 2024?

08-02-2025   


As FashionCapital’s hometown – London, prepares to showcase its design talent with the start of London Fashion Week, commencing Friday 13th September, some are questioning fashion’s relevance in what has become an excessively saturated market. 

Increasing concerns about fashion’s impact on the planet has dramatically swayed consumer shopping habits and principles when it comes to clothes. From those vowing to buy less to increased sales in vintage and reworked clothing – it is clear we are in the midst of a wake-up call to do better.

As London Fashion Week celebrates its 40th anniversary with stalwarts such as Burberry, Bora Aksu and Paul Costelloe, designers are acutely aware of evolving practices in sustainability and circularity. On 12th September the British Fashion Council announced S.S.DALEY as the recipient of The Queen Elizabeth II Award for British Design. (Pictured right with HRH The Duchess of Edinburgh and Caroline Rush CBE, image by Darren Gerrish)

S.S.DALEY uses deadstock and donated fabrics to create designs, and the decision to highlight and award a brand that endorses this ethos is a strong indicator of the industry’s developing direction.

So, why should we care about fashion now? Can it really be an economic powerhouse and environmentally conscious?

The UKFT stated in 2023:

+ The UK fashion and textile industry directly supported a £62 billion contribution to UK GDP, 1.3 million jobs across the country and raised more than £23 billion in tax revenues.

The Economic Impact of the UK Fashion Industry In 2021 from Oxford Economics 2022 said:

Industry Overview from the British Fashion Council’s – Value of Fashion Report 2021:

Recent data clearly shows the fashion industry as a major economic player for the UK, and despite the knock-on effect of the pandemic along with a challenging period for retail and sales, the sector does have the potential to play a significant part in the UK’s economic growth. Let’s hope the new government is listening!

Top image: Paul Costelloe at LFW by Chris Daw




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