The Fashion District are delighted to announce we will be hosting a panel discussion on the main stage at this year’s international fashion tradeshow Pure, on Tuesday 12th February, 2019, 12:30-1pm.
Driven by a partnership that is backed by London government and includes fashion trade bodies, industry, educational institutions, studio providers and local authorities (find out about our partners here), the Fashion District supports the growth of the fashion industry in north-east London, and aims to strengthen London’s position as the global capital of fashion technology and innovation, and drive economic and social transformation.
Join us for a panel of industry and Fashion District partners including Helen Lax, Director of Fashion District (chair), Jenny Holloway, CEO of Fashion Enter, and Sabinna Rachimova, Founder of designer label Sabinna, for a discussion on what is needed to support the designers, manufacturers and fashion businesses of today, and how Fashion District’s latest projects and plans are supporting industry by creating opportunities for enterprise support, space, investment, skills development and innovation.
Helen Lax, Director, Fashion District
The Fashion District brings together fashion, technology, business and education to meet, compete, collaborate and innovate – nurturing talent, generating new jobs and developing new products.
It aims to support the revival of east London’s fashion heritage, capitalise on the economic benefits of the global fashion industry in London, to make east London a global hub of fashion technology and innovation, support ‘Made in Britain’, and build a lasting legacy for the future.
Helen Lax joined the Fashion District in 2017, previously holding Director positions for the Arts Council, Essex County Council, and Suffolk Dance, bringing 28 years of knowledge and expertise to the project.
Paul Augarde, Director of Innovation, Poplar HARCA
Poplar Works is the product of a proud partnership between Poplar HARCA, The Trampery and London College of Fashion, UAL, and is part of the Fashion District. Located in the heart of Poplar, it’s a new space which combines low-cost studios, enterprise progammes and training facilities to give start up fashion designers and makers the support they need to grow, whilst helping more east Londoners find work in the fashion sector. It is set to open in Summer 2019, with studios available to let from September 2019.
Paul is Director of Placemaking at Poplar HARCA, leading the award-winning Accents team to deliver innovative social, economic and cultural regeneration strategies and projects within a rapidly changing East London. Poplar Works is part of an fashion-based industrial strategy for the Lower Lea with UAL: London College of Fashion, the GLA and the London Borough of Tower Hamlets.
Anna Ellis, Production Manager, Centre for Fashion Enterprise
Working with the next generation of iconic design innovators, the Centre for Fashion Enterprise fast tracks designers into businesses. CFE’s facilities provides support to unlock creativity and business potential, allowing designers to gain an international foothold. Successes include Erdem, Peter Pilotto, Mary Katrantzou, Marques Almeida and Craig Green.
The Fashion Technology Emerging Futures project vision is to support the new eco-system emerging in London, recognising the convergence of fashion and technology SMEs. Anna Ellis joined the CFE in June 2016 as Production Manager to support their FTEF project beneficiaries in developing their businesses through enhancing their supply chain and production management capabilities. With over 20 years’ experience in production and product development, she has sourced and manufactured products in China, India, South America, Europe and the UK, and held senior positions at Gloverall, Ralph Lauren, Calvin Klein and Gap inc.
Sabinna Rachimova, Founder, SABINNA
SABINNA is a fair fashion and lifestyle brand for women. Founded by Russian-born and Austrian-raised designer Sabinna Rachimova the label is based in London and has a knitwear studio in Vienna. SABINNA presents a seasonal collection at London Fashion Week and in May 2017 won the Fashion Futures awards presented by Decoded Fashion and the British Fashion Council. The brand is well known for its innovative take on selling strategies and direct communication with the customer as well as its sustainable approach to fashion.
Sabinna Rachimova graduated from Central Saint Martins College of Art and Design. Before launching her eponymous label, she worked for the leading Parisian Fashion house Christian Dior and London brand Mary Katrantzou. Sabinna Rachimova is also a public speaker, spreading the word about both FashTech and sustainable fashion. Recently Sabinna collaborated on an EU funded project with the innovation agency BRIA UK to transform end-of-life garments into new 100% recyclable and biodegradable materials.
You can register for PURE here.