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Evo Fashion: Cohort Two Graduates at The Backroom Pitch! 

On Tuesday, the spotlight shone brightly at The Trampery Old Street, where The Backroom Pitch marked the finale of the Evo Fashion programme. An evening steeped in innovation and ingenuity, the event brought together 24 start-ups, each with a vision to transform the fashion industry. From trailblazing sustainability solutions to bold new technologies, the event was a celebration of purpose-driven entrepreneurship, showcasing the power of creativity and dedication in tackling the fashion industry’s most pressing issues. 

As the final Evo Fashion event of the year, The Backroom Pitch not only concluded the programme but also represented the beginning of an exciting new chapter in our founders’ entrepreneurial journeys. For each start-up, it was an opportunity to gain invaluable insight into their business’s potential – insight that will shape the future of their ventures. The event also provided an opportunity to connect with investors, business advisers, and industry experts, all eager to engage with the next wave of breakthrough ideas.

Evo Fashion

Delivered in partnership with Evo Learning – a training subsidiary of The Trampery, as part of London & Partners’ Grow London Early Stage Programme funded by the UK Shared Prosperity Fund – Evo Fashion delivered an experiential programme for start-ups and early-stage businesses that took an holistic approach to business strategy, helping them drive economic growth while also integrating sustainability into every aspect of their businesses.

Designed to fit in with work commitments and delivered by experts, the programme consisted of a two-day intensive launchpad and four full-day masterclasses which focused on different aspects of learning, including environmental and social governance, opportunities for innovation, sustainable growth and investment, finance and business planning, and founder wellbeing, leadership and impactful teams. Peppered in amongst the sessions and masterclasses, there was tailored 1-2-1 mentoring, three peer-to-peer learning workshops, and the opportunity to showcase and pitch to investors, business advisors, and industry experts at this week’s Backroom Pitch.

About The Backroom Pitch

Taking place across two spaces within The Trampery, the event saw founders pitch to carefully selected panels.

In the first room, start-ups pitched to experienced investors with knowledge on how to spot high-potential ventures. The focus was on investment readiness, with panellists offering constructive feedback that helped founders view their businesses through a financial lens. This was a key opportunity to pitch to seasoned investors and gain insights into how to attract funding and scale successfully.

Meanwhile, in the second room, a panel of five business advisers and industry experts offered a different kind of expertise. Here, the emphasis was on refining business models, improving pitch presentations, and assessing innovation strategies. The advisers provided actionable feedback that allowed each founder to refine their presentation skills, focusing on the strengths of their business and potential areas for improvement. This gave the start-ups the clarity they needed to take their ventures to the next stage.

Each pitch expressed creativity and innovation, with start-ups tackling sustainability challenges across an array of different areas, including:

After each pitch, panel members offered tailored feedback, asked thoughtful questions, and shared their expert advice. For the founders, it was a rare chance to showcase their businesses and receive feedback on their pitch, deck, innovation, business model, and more. Throughout the evening, guests enjoyed drinks and nibbles provided by INIS

The highlight of the event was the opportunity for our startups to interact with an incredible panel of investors and advisers. The experts brought a wealth of experience and insight, helping each founder identify key areas for growth and development. A huge thank you to everyone who took part.

A Green Future 

Marking the final event on the Evo Fashion calendar for 2024, this year has seen Fashion District and Evo Learning support 39 start-ups committed to making the fashion industry more sustainable, ethical, innovative, circular, and regenerative. We look forward to watching their next steps, offering support wherever we can, and we wish all Evo Fashion graduates continued success on their entrepreneurial journeys. 


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The WIP: Why Your Values Should Drive Your Business Partnerships

Have you heard about The WIP’s Expert Directory? This new platform is a one stop shop for all your environmental and social impact experts, offering the opportunity to connect with industry peers that share your values in business. In this article, Lucy Kebbell, Founder of The WIP, talks us through strategic partnerships and the myriad ways that they can support your business.

Business partnerships offer an excellent opportunity to grow your business, your brand awareness and to test new markets. A strategic partnership is understood to be an agreement between two or more businesses working together to achieve a common goal. Of course, these goals will be unique to the businesses in question, however, incorporating values into these partnerships is a vital ingredient for any values driven business. 

Maybe you are looking to build a reputation around ethical business practices, or build trust and authenticity to help yourself stand out in a very crowded market place. Working with a business that doesn’t align with these values, or worse, openly works against these values could damage your reputation. 

You should also think about any work you do with freelancers as a partnership too. A copywriter, PR or supply chain expert should share your values, or even hold them more deeply than you do, so that you can ensure that you benefit from their increased knowledge. 

Why are Partnerships Important?

Partnerships can be big or small, but as long as it benefits your business in some way, it’s a strategic partnership. Partnerships can be leveraged to grow your brand awareness, create new customers, cement your values and share costs. For example, you might partner with a few other like minded businesses to create a pop up shop. You would share the cost of the putting on the pop up, and market the event together to each other’s networks. A drinks sponsor could also become a partner, again, allowing you to be ‘cool by association’ or simply grow your brand awareness with your partner’s audience. 

Aligning your values to your partners cements your core values to your existing and potential customers. It allows you space to explore other ways to inhabit the values you hold and not stray outside of them. For instance, it wouldn’t make sense for an ethically made, organic clothing brand to partner with Starbucks in a Wetherspoons pub. Neither brand is known for its ethics, and one has been accused of greenwashing. This partnership would damage your reputation and confuse your customers. 

This also counts for the experts and freelancers you may use in the business too. Since they will likely tell people they have worked with, it’s important to make sure that they understand your values and are aligned with them before you begin working together to prevent friction later on. If you choose an expert with a reputation for working in the fossil fuel industry, or for unethical businesses, this may damage your reputation too. 

The Benefits of Values-Driven Partnerships in Fashion

Just any old partner won’t do. They should have some relationship to your business, and they should ideally be values-aligned. There are several benefits to this;

1. Strengthening your brand identity and authenticity
If our organic clothing company partnered with an organic fruit juice company or an organic homeware company, this strengthens the brand’s values in the organic space. It makes them look more authentic because they are partnering with other organic companies that have knowledge in their own space. 

    2. Appealing to new conscious consumers
    87% of consumers would prefer to shop with a conscious business* so shouting about your brand’s values will win you more customers. These new customers could find you via a partnership because they are already loyal to the company you are partnering with. 

      3. Fostering long-term stability and growth
      Values-driven partnerships are more resilient in the face of industry challenges and trends. They allow you to grow trust with your customers, making them more likely to come back and tell their friends about you too. 

      Identifying Values Alignment

      First you need to be clear on your own values. Define your businesses values, whether it be ethical sourcing, environmental regeneration, supporting underrepresented communities or finding new homes for outlived items (circularity). It’s also important to understand your customers’ values too. There is a reason they are shopping from you but they may also care about other things so market research is crucial here to help you understand this. 

      Research potential partners’ values and practices through competition and market research. If you are already part of a community of small businesses with similar values to yours, this can be a great place to start. Think about the brand’s sustainability initiatives, labour practices, or materials sourcing. Also think about what events or partnerships they’ve have had in the past and whether these might appeal to your target market. 

      Practical Steps for Fashion Brands to Build Values-Driven Partnerships

      Networking is a critical first step when it comes to fostering relationships with potential partners. Often, it’s the personal relationships we have with fellow business founders that form the basis of the best partnerships or collaborations. So get out there or get the word out to your networks that you are looking for values aligned partners.

      Next, ensure you retain your values by factoring them into any agreements you have. It’s important to mutually agree upon who will be responsible for what. Make sure you advocate for your values throughout the process, from asking how much staff might be paid, or querying where potential waste might end up. 

      Communicate effectively by having a marketing plan agreed upon by all parties. Ensure that products and designers are credited fairly, and that everyone shares the burden of social media or digital marketing before, during and after the partnership. 

      Partnership Success Case Studies

      Fanfare partners with Stelar
      Stelar is known for it’s ethically made, woven handbags that support handweavers in Bali to fairly monetise their skills. They teamed up with circular denim brand Fanfare to use denim offcuts from production of their jeans, to be used to weave handbags. This partnership is genius because it was born out of Fanfare’s circular mission but it introduces their customer to a fellow business who is also ethically minded and supplies the kind of stylish handbags that their customers might love.

      Monica Vinader with Mother of Pearl Founder Amy Powney
      Monica Vinader has been busy changing it’s reputation in the last few years to align with it’s ethics, so this partnership with ethical clothing brand Mother of Pearl is a winner. Amy helped design the capsule collection of jewels featuring ethically sourced mother of pearl. She then used MV designed cufflinks in two limited edition organic and Tencel shirts for Mother of Pearls clothing line. 

      There are many benefits to partnerships for your values driven business, and the good news is that they are mutually beneficial. Partnerships enable you to grow and take advantage of other entrepreneurs or experts knowledge to bolster your business, and grow your customer base. 

      Not sure where to start? Explore The WIP’s Expert Directory to find fashion experts and partners aligned with your values.

      *Source: PwC consumer survey


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      Evo Fashion: Cohort Two Announced!

      Following the success of the first round of Evo Fashion earlier this year, here at Fashion District, we’re beyond excited for our second cohort to embark on this experiential, high-impact programme. 

      With this round specifically catering to fashion technology ventures, we’re thrilled to unveil the twenty-four start-ups offering innovative solutions for the fashion and materials industry, each with the potential to advance sustainability in the sector.

      What is Evo Fashion?

      Designed exclusively for fashion technology businesses, the second round of Evo Fashion is a fully funded, five-month programme that takes an holistic approach to business strategy. With a focus on key areas such as environmental and ethical practices, business and financial planning, marketing and storytelling, founder wellbeing, and sustainable growth, the programme offers a comprehensive learning experience. Activities include a two-day intensive launchpad, masterclasses, peer-to-peer learning, panels, talks, and workshops – all structured to accommodate work commitments and culminating in an industry showcase.

      Evo Fashion is part of the Grow London Early Stage programme, powered by London & Partners – a business support programme for early-stage growth companies active in high growth sectors that support sustainable and inclusive growth in London. The programme is funded by the UK Government through the UK Shared Prosperity Fund.

      Introducing the Second Cohort 

      Meet the twenty-four businesses selected for the first Evo Fashion programme: 

      ASTRA

      Astra is a pioneering tech startup that masterfully integrates Virtual Reality (VR) and Artificial Intelligence (AI) to redefine traditional in-store retail experiences. Our cutting-edge platform allows customers, to preview upcoming fashion collections in VR, providing brands with critical data on consumer preferences and infusing a dynamic element of gamification into the physical shopping experience.

      Bloomino

      Bloomino provides AI-driven software that automates fashion resale and rental listings from purchase receipts. Our solution generates detailed listings with 16 key fields, including descriptions and photos. As a white-label product, we integrate with existing platforms to accelerate transactions, enhance accuracy, and increase appeal, simplifying engagement in the resale market.

      British Pasture Leather

      British Pasture Leather is the first supplier of leather from the hides of cattle raised on regenerative farms in the UK. Our mission is to connect design with ecosystem restoration through the production of leather. We supply designers with material that delivers positive impacts for land, animals, people, and nature.

      CircKit

      CircKit is the AI-powered ‘Circular by Design’ solution empowering fashion brands to design sustainable products, harmonise their data, and meet regulatory compliance. CircKit’s holistic algorithm aggregates environmental, social and economic factors. An award-winning SaaS platform, accelerating positive impact as a ‘nucleus’ technology solution for a circular global fashion value chain.

      CQ Studio

      CQ Studio is a regenerative fashion lab conducting the research & development of innovative materials by using regenerative practices including using mushrooms to clean textile-dye wastewater to make our detox bio-embellishment (patent-pending). They use various techniques in their research combining contemporary and traditional craft techniques.

      Creanial

      Creanial is revolutionising fashion with its portable robotic garment manufacturing hub, blending automation, sustainability, and accessibility. By tackling industry challenges, Creanial empowers designers and meets diverse consumer needs. This innovative approach paves the way for a more sustainable, inclusive future in fashion, minimising environmental impact while maximizing creativity and efficiency.

      Della Yellow

      Our innovation is a digital sewing school designed to make fashion-forward sewing, upcycling and repair skills accessible to Gen Z and millennials. This platform offers up-to-date tutorials and projects that reflect the latest styles, coupled with sustainable practices. Leveraging AI technologies, our platform will provide personalised learning experiences and real-time feedback.

      ELVARDI

      ELVARDI creates stylish, sustainable sneakers for the fashion-forward adults. Our footwear blends trendy colourways and elegant eco-friendly materials, emphasising sustainability through product care, recycling, and reselling. Each purchase supports underserved creatives, allowing our customers to express their style while making a positive impact on the world.

      Eslando Circular Fashion

      Eslando is a circular fashion tech company on a mission to accelerate textile recycling. Our aim is to create the easiest and most efficient path to recycle textiles. Our Artificial Intelligence (AI) powered software leverages Digital Product Passports (DPP) to sort textile waste for recycling with pinpoint accuracy.

      Fung Studios

      Stephy Fung is a digital fashion artist, educator, and content creator in London. She blends urban streetwear with traditional Chinese elements, aiming to establish a Web3 digital fashion brand. Her designs, reflecting her British Chinese heritage, bridge the gap between physical and digital fashion.

      Galore.club

      Galore.club integrates NFC tags and blockchain to create Digital Product Passports for luxury textiles. This technology addresses three key industry challenges: supply chain opacity, limited data retention, and product authenticity. By creating digital twins, Galore.club syncs product data, offering real-time lifecycle visibility to stakeholders, thereby revolutionising luxury retail and manufacturing infrastructure.

      Gemell Technology

      Gemell is tackling the needless overproduction of fabric and yarn samples with 3D visualisation technology. Gemell’s offering is unique, generating photorealistic digital twins of yarns and fabrics down to the filament level, using only the data from the yarn recipe and the weave pattern file. No samples. No scanning. No waste.

      Genie

      Genie is a search engine and shopping tool for pre-loved fashion. With the pre-loved fashion market expected to grow at 77.8% from 2023-2028 there has been an explosion in inventory and pre-loved shopping destinations. However, each product is unique making it challenging to find what you’re looking for and stay on top of what is available on the market. Genie allows users to set alerts on particular categories or products to source what they are looking for from across the internet.

      Labelld

      Labelld is a pioneering company specializing in digital product passports and post-purchase experiences. Leveraging Web3 technology, we enhance brand-customer relationships through blockchain-based authenticity, traceability, and innovative after-sales services, driving engagement and loyalty in the luxury and fashion sectors.

      LAYBL

      LAYBL creates unique connections for retail brands by tracking clothes from production to recycling, extending their reach, preparing for EU DPP and reducing carbon footprints. And our smart wardrobe app connects these items to their buyers, encouraging product longevity using AI and gamification to make being eco-friendly, easy and fun.

      Loom

      Loom connects you with designers to upcycle (redesign) your unworn and damaged clothes. Simply tell us about an item you no longer wear and we give you ideas on how we could transform it. Or if you have an idea already, we’ll bring your vision to life!

      Or Collective

      Or Collective is the first design-led rental subscription for babies and children. A tech-first model working with all the cult kids wear brands, or collective curates current, high quality fashion led collections that are available for members to rent, wear and rotate as they need.

      PhygitalTwin

      Our AI engine provides a seamless, cost-effective gateway to 3D digital product creation, automating and scaling the design of skins and fashion collections. It converts these into production-ready patterns in real time, enabling mass customisation, and sustainable production, revolutionising the fashion industry’s design-to-production process. Designs can effortlessly be transformed into skins for your favorite games or social media profiles, creating opportunities for validation and additional revenue streams.

      Redress

      An AI-powered platform that provides personalised outfit recommendations by analyzing trends, styles, and user preferences. It empowers discovery through tailored and dynamic experience, enabling users to access, interact, and act upon bespoke and relevant information. We believe in a new way of shopping.

      SEWN DIGITAL

      At SEWN DIGITAL FASHION, we envisage an industry where digital garments and AI imagery are developed alongside physical products. Our innovative approach addresses industry challenges such as waste reduction, carbon reduction, efficiency, and accuracy through cutting-edge fashion tech solutions.

      TEOZ

      TEOZ’ mission is to create fashion that goes beyond what is possible in the physical world. Our goal is to create new possibilities for people to engage with fashion by leveraging mixed reality technology and innovative production approaches. We make fashion that is kinder to the environment and more fun.

      THE FASHION BLUEPRINT

      THE FASHION BLUEPRINT (TFB) is a community-focused digital agency promoting sustainability in fashion. It supports underrepresented fashion entrepreneurs and connects freelance Fashion Upcyclers with retailers to reduce deadstock and combat waste colonialism. TFB’s tech platform aids brands in joining the circular economy and addressing fashion waste issues.

      VAIVR

      VAIVR transforms online fashion retail with advanced 3D virtual try-on technology. Shoppers create precise 3D avatars from a single photo to try on garments in their exact size. We simulate realistic fabric behaviour and movement, enhancing fit accuracy and customer confidence, leading to reduced returns and better shopping experiences.

      Zori Tex

      Zori Tex is a climate tech start-up on a mission to drive circularity in the hugely resource intensive fashion and textiles industry through innovative AI-powered technologies – combining machine vision and the latest deep learning networks to optimise the sorting and availability of complex non-reusable feedstocks, ready for closed loop recycling.


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      No Ordinary Cloth x Fashion District: An interview with Mili Tharakan

      Mili Tharakan is a woman of many talents. Having spent 20 years working in smart textiles as a designer and researcher, Mili brings her expertise to her podcast No Ordinary Cloth, where she delves into the wonderful world of textiles and tapestry innovation. Recently, Fashion District collaborated with No Ordinary Cloth on a podcast mini-series, featuring interviews with some of the most innovative emerging designers, pioneers, experts, and visionaries in the sustainable textiles space. 

      Last week, we had the pleasure of speaking with Mili about her career journey, the inspiration behind her hit podcast, and the resources she recommends for those interested in the field. Read on to discover more. 


      Tell us a bit about your background.

      I’m a smart textile designer and developer with 20 years of experience in academia and industry. My passion lies at the intersection of traditional textile crafts and emerging technology, inspired by my Indian heritage and its vibrant textile culture. 

      Over the years, having lived and worked in countries including Oman, Singapore, Sweden, and now the UK, I love learning about new cultures, their heritage crafts and textile narratives found in their social, political, economic and religious contexts.

      I love to travel and I’m currently learning Spanish, hoping to discover South American textile crafts. Above all, I value relationships and enjoy meeting new people, often saying that while some collect board games or art, I collect friends.

      What inspired you to start the podcast?

      I started the podcast during a period of reflection after 20 years in smart textiles and wondering what I wanted to do for the next 20 years. Having participated in the development of smart textiles from its early days and navigated the often solitary and challenging path of innovation, what I wish I had during this time was a community of others who were on similar journeys, to learn from each other, to help each other. 

      This was the little spark that motivated me to create a community that brought together innovators who were radically changing the textile industry landscape, to share our experiences and learnings, to inspire and support each other. I wanted to tell the stories of others who are navigating this uncharted path and share their insights. 

      I felt it was important to democratise this knowledge, making it accessible to a broader audience and showcasing the incredible possibilities within textiles while changing the very way we imagine, make, use and dispose of textiles.

      What impact do you hope the podcast will have, and what types of audiences are you aiming to connect with and why?

      When I graduated with a textile degree in the summer of 2001, I stumbled upon the book Techno Textiles in a bookstore, and it completely turned my world upside down. I learned about integrating light into fabrics and using textiles as sensors, and I was instantly hooked. That book set me on an incredible 20-year adventure, transforming my career and ideas about the meaning, role, and function of textiles in ways I never imagined. I hope this podcast will spark curiosity, inspire and inform a diverse audience, and transform someone’s career as the book did for me. 

      My aim is to:

      1. Provide textile practitioners with a bird’s-eye view of our evolving industry, encouraging cross-disciplinary collaborations.
      2. Share stories that demonstrate how others have carved unique paths in the industry.
      3. Bring niche textile innovation discussions and knowledge to a wider audience. 
      4. Showcase the intersection of science and creativity in textiles, inspiring young people to see the relevance of science in design fields.
      5. Connect startups and innovators, fostering a supportive community.

      Ultimately, I want to build a community that supports each other and pushes the boundaries of textile innovation, reaching audiences from curious teenagers to industry professionals and startups.

      What excites you most about textile innovation at the moment? Are there any particular innovators or trends in the industry that you are especially enthusiastic about?

      I’m very excited about next-gen materials, but recently, I’ve become equally fascinated by the often-overlooked innovations in manufacturing processes, particularly in weaving. This might be because I love weaving. The 3D weaving technologies developed by companies like Unspun and Weffan, and the Digital Jacquard Handloom by Digital Weaving Norway, are truly revolutionary. I can’t wait to see how these areas evolve!

      I am also curious about innovative recycling solutions, especially for blended fabrics and nylons. The CEO of Syntetica said, “We already have enough textiles in the world to make all the garments we need”. This is a powerful statement. Maybe we don’t need to create new textile materials but can maximise existing materials – this is an area I am following closely. 

      How do you see the future of textile innovation evolving over the next 5-10 years? 

      Using the Gartner Hype Cycle as a reference to answer this question, I believe we’re currently between the Innovation Trigger and Peak of Inflated Expectations stages. There is lots of interesting proof of concept, the media is all over it, we are all excited about the developments and the promises it makes. But in some areas like next-gen materials maybe we are already moving into the Trough of Disillusionment. In 5 years, I think we’ll likely reach the Slope of Enlightenment, and in 10 years, the Plateau of Productivity with mainstream adoption of some of these technologies.

      Education in textiles and fashion will need to evolve radically to enable the evolution of these innovations. We must train people for future jobs, teaching fashion students to design for 3D weaving garments or equipping textile designers to work with biochemists to create new dyes. There needs to be a complete rethink about the skills we need in the next 5-10 years to drive textile innovations and impact the industry. Students need to be able to move more fluidly across disciplines.

      Key areas of development include:

      1. Maturation of new and next-gen materials in the supply chain
      2. Innovation in manufacturing processes
      3. Enhanced customisation and on-demand services where things are made once someone buys it, rather than the mass production model we have today.

      Overall, it’s such an exciting time, and the industry will likely look radically different in 10 years.

      For those interested in learning more about textile and fashion innovation, could you recommend any books, articles, documentaries or other resources on the topic?

      1. Techno Textiles and Techno Textiles 2 by Sarah E. Braddock and Marie O’Mahony. I would still highly recommend these books that inspired me 20 years ago. I believe it is still very relevant. It’s really fascinating to trace back some of the work you see today to its origin or starting point in these books and it still opens up some many possibilities
      2. Textile Visionaries: Innovation and Sustainability in Textile Design by Bradley Quinn
      3. Radical Matter: Rethinking Materials for a Sustainable Future by Kate Franklin and Caroline Till
      4. Unfolding Fashion Tech: Pioneers of Bright Futures by Marie Toeters et al
      5. Textile Innovation Podcast
      6. Abstract: The Art of Design (Netflix series about Design in general)
      7. Future Fabrics Expo by Sustainable Angle in London and New York

      Staying true to her ethos, that ‘textiles matter,’ Mili’s belief that every fibre, every stitch, and every innovation can have an impact on our lives and the environment resonates deeply in today’s fashion climate. Curious to learn more? Tune in to the first two episodes of our exclusive mini-series with Mili here: https://open.spotify.com/show/1L4KAxUefaynGoVi1x0cns?si=2b84ea5055094413

      You can also follow the podcast on instagram at @noordinarycloth.


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      Emerging Designers Graduate from Evo Fashion With a Showcase at The Conduit

      On Wednesday 3rd July, the first cohort of fashion brands and designers graduated from our Evo Fashion programme, delivered in partnership with Evo Learning, at a special industry showcase at The Conduit.

      ‘I want to say a big congratulations to our Evo designers—the first cohort to attend our Evo Fashion business programme—who are showcasing their outstanding products, garments, and accessories in the room tonight,’ says Helen Lax, Director of Fashion of District, onstage at the Manufacturing Futures 2024 Awards Supper. ‘The programme was designed to help businesses become more robust, focusing on all aspects of their operations, including finance, production, distribution, and product.’

      Looking around the room at The Conduit, where mannequins draped in beautiful prints boldly catch the eye and rails displaying everything from chunky knitwear, summer dresses, and streetwear, to fun accessories, inclusive underwear, and luxury leather shoes are being perused by attendees, one can’t help but admire the wealth of talent showcased by the Evo Fashion designers. It’s not hard to feel optimistic about the future of the fashion industry with brands like these emerging. 

      Delivered in partnership with Evo Learning, a training subsidiary of The Trampery, as part of London & Partners’ Early Stage Grow Programme funded by the UK Shared Prosperity Fund, Evo Fashion delivers an experiential programme for emerging brands that takes a holistic approach to business strategy, helping them drive growth while also integrating sustainability into every aspect of their businesses.

      Designed to fit in with work commitments and delivered by experts, the programme consisted of a two-day intensive launchpad and four full-day masterclasses which focused on different aspects of learning, including environmental and social governance, exploring new business models, production and innovation, sustainable growth and investment, finance and business planning, and founder wellbeing, leadership and impactful teams. Peppered in amongst the sessions and masterclasses, there were panels and talks, tailored 1-2-1 mentoring, three peer-to-peer learning workshops, a creative photoshoot, and tonight’s presentation at Fashion District’s Manufacturing Futures 2024 Awards Supper to a room full of investors, brands, startups and innovators.

      Selected by a stellar judging panel including Vanessa Podmore, Founder of Podmore Consulting; Yvie Hutton, Director of Design Relations and Membership at the British Fashion Council; Charles Armstrong, CEO of The Trampery, and Helen Lax, Director of Fashion District, our 15 participants were chosen based on their potential for business success and their commitment to integrating sustainability into their ventures. 

      The first Evo Fashion cohort included: Anciela, Asmuss, BEEN London, Clara Chu, Colèchi, Everyday Phenomenal, Fashion Meets Music, Isla de Gar, Kyle Ho, Mirla Beane, NEW STANDARD, OMNISS, Percy Langley, Pomi and Seeds, and ZERØ London. 

      Speaking with Tukiya Mutupa, Founder of Pomi and Seeds, about the programme, she says, ‘I found the course really educational and practical. There aren’t a lot of programmes that help sustainability-focused fashion brands. This is the only one I’ve seen that’s fashion focused. I’ve been on learning programmes before that focused on wider business perspective development, but Evo Fashion was so comprehensive. We covered everything from manufacturing, materials, and product, to hearing from industry leaders and receiving tailored feedback in 1-2-1 sessions. It was amazing.’ 

      Emma Garner, Founder of Isla De Gar, echoed this sentiment. ‘It’s been so valuable,’ she tells me. ‘I’ve been growing my brand organically, but I haven’t put any systems in place and that’s what this course has enabled me to realise. I come from a design background and started out as a designer and maker, so I didn’t really have any kind of goals or plans – I was just obsessed with bags! When I heard about Evo Fashion and its focus on business growth, finance, and sustainability, I realised it was the perfect fit for me. I liked that the programme offered tailored guidance with personalised 1-2-1 sessions and I found the marketing and financing days so useful. Those areas aren’t my forte, but I’ve now realised those are the things I need to hone in on.’

      ‘What we loved about the Evo Fashion programme was how holistic the content was,’ says Lizzy Lambie, Co-Founder of Fashion Meets Music. ‘There was a lot about personal wellbeing, and for us as a brand that’s really important. Hearing from bigger brands, for example Primark, was also useful. It’s interesting to hear from different kinds of brands and how they’re implementing sustainability into their businesses. We may be SMEs, but it all trickles down to us at the end of the day.’ 

      Clara Chu, multidisciplinary artist and designer, says the course provided her with numerous insights. ‘We discussed the vision for our brands in Vanessa Podmore’s sustainability session, and I came away pondering how to make truly impactful change. After Stuart Balmer’s finance and investment session, I thought about how to keep my business afloat without going bankrupt. Emily Bingley’s marketing and communications session made me consider how to effectively communicate my brand’s message to the public. The course was well-rounded, bringing together various perspectives. Now, it’s time to follow their advice and take the next steps.’

      We can’t wait to follow these fifteen brands’ journeys. Stay tuned to hear about Evo Fashion’s second cohort soon!

      All images: Christian Sinibaldi


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      Fibe wins Manufacturing Futures Innovation Challenge

      Fashion District announced the winner and runner-ups of Manufacturing Futures 2024 at an Awards Evening hosted in The Conduit’s Ubuntu Lounge.

      Fashion District has announced Fibe as the winner of its 2024 Manufacturing Futures Innovation Challenge. Fibe is a material science startup developing the world’s first textile fibres out of potato harvest waste. The company is developing the most scale, affordable and sustainable textile fibres with comparable performance to mainstream materials. They will receive £15,000 to advance their innovation and grow their business.

      The winner was chosen by a judging panel of industry experts, including Ella Gould, Head of Sustainability and Innovation at Selfridges; Chelsea Franklin, Head of Advanced Concept Design at PANGAIA; Gillian Lipton, sustainability consultant most recently at Alexander McQueen; Matthew Drinkwater, Head of Fashion Innovation Agency at London College of Fashion, UAL; and Adam Mansell, CEO of UKFT.

      Ella Gould, Head of Sustainability and Innovation at Selfridges and Manufacturing Futures judge, said:

      “I feel so energised and hopeful after seeing such a broad spectrum of pitches solving problems across fashion’s entire value chain. The judges were unanimous in Fibe winning this year’s award. The energy in the room after their pitch was palpable and we so look forward to seeing them take their fiber innovation to the next level. Who knew potatoes were so exciting!”

      Idan Gal-Shohet, co-founder of Fibe, commented:

      “I’m really excited about winning the Manufacturing Futures prize. I’ve known many of the start-ups in this programme for a long time and have so much respect for them, which is why winning this prize means so much to us. The funding will be used to expand our business, so we are able to harvest a variety of different crops and create better conditions for farmers around the world. Our mission in the end is to create materials that use far fewer environmental resources than what’s currently available. Thank you so much to the judges and organisers for giving us this great opportunity to grow Fibe.” 

      The runners-up, who will each receive £5,000 for their business, include Sequinova, who are making biodegradable sequins out of cellulose; and Fab Materials, who are converting hard to recycle fashion waste into valuable boards and composites, such as furniture. 

      Helen Lax, Director of Fashion District commented:

      “Congratulations to Fibe for winning this year’s Manufacturing Futures Innovation Challenge. I am thoroughly impressed by the talent and creativity of all the start-ups who took part in this year’s challenge and am hopeful for the future of the industry. There’s plenty we can do to improve and start-ups like these take us one step closer to achieving tangible change.” 

      The following brands were also part of the 2024 iteration of Manufacturing Futures: Innovation Challenge: 

      We would like to thank The Conduit for hosting the Manufacturing Futures Innovation Challenge awards ceremony, and everyone that joined us to celebrate.

      All images: Christian Sinibaldi


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      Manufacturing Futures 2024 kicks off with Critical Friends Day at Plexal

      Last week, we gathered our 10 shortlisted businesses at Plexal’s Innovation Centre for Critical Friends Day, officially launching our 2024 programme.

      Taking over the spacious venue, the day was meticulously organised for our 10 shortlisted businesses – Arda Materials, Fibe, Fab Materials, Oxford Biopigments, TRUSS, Sequinova, Zori Tex, Fiiba, PACT, and The Seam – to present their businesses to industry experts and receive valuable feedback ahead of their final presentation to the judges.


      Our Expert Lineup:

      Manufacturing Innovation and Sustainability

      Manufacturing Production

      Investment Insights

      Marketing Insights

      Business Growth and IP

      Empowered by real-time feedback on their businesses, many of the startups left with actionable steps outlined by the critical friends to help elevate their growth. Throughout the day, breaks in the timetable provided ample opportunities for the businesses to get to know each other, fostering the exchange of ideas, opportunities, and mutual support.

      Fuelled by the high energy in the room, the day proved to be a resounding success, leaving our shortlisted businesses eagerly anticipating our upcoming event, the Development Day on 30th May. Closing the event, the startups were given the opportunity to offer feedback about their experience. Woody Lello, CEO of TRUSS, spoke on behalf of them all, saying, ‘It was a really fun day!’ 


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      Manufacturing Futures: Shortlist Announcement!

      Fashion District has announced the shortlist of 10 start-ups and SMEs in its coveted Innovation Challenge: Manufacturing Futures programme.

      As part of the programme, the brands have the chance to win a £15,000 cash prize to develop their sustainable manufacturing business to make an impact on the fashion industry, chosen by a judging panel of experts in July.

      The shortlisted start-ups are:

      Helen Lax, Fashion District Director said:

      “It is incredible to be part of something that has the potential to change the way an industry works and make a real impact for future generations. The shortlist of brands in this iteration of Manufacturing Futures is spectacularly strong, and one can’t help but be amazed by the sheer talent and innovation held by the next gen of changemakers.”

      The shortlist was chosen by the Manufacturing Futures judging panel, consisting of industry experts Ella Gould, Head of Sustainability and Innovation at Selfridges; Chelsea Franklin, Head of Advanced Concept Design at PANGAIA; Adam Mansell, CEO of UKFT, Gillian Lipton, Sustainability Director at Alexander McQueen; and Matthew Drinkwater, Head of Fashion Innovation Agency at London College of Fashion, UAL.

      Winners from the previous Innovation Challenges include Lone Design Club, a platform where independent brands and conscious shoppers meet; Sparkbox, a retail planning and optimisation platform powered by machine learning; and Biophilica for their entirely plant-based, compostable leather alternative, Treekind.

      Fashion District was founded in 2018 with a goal to bring together fashion, technology, business and education in east London to meet, compete, collaborate and innovate. Fashion District works with a number of different partners to facilitate support programmes helping to develop a strong, sustainable network within the UK fashion industry. Spearheaded by Director Helen Lax, Fashion District is supported by London College of Fashion, UAL, and the Mayor of London.


      MEET THE SHORTLIST

      Arda Biomaterials
      Arda Biomaterials transforms globally abundant waste and co-product streams into scalable, animal, and plastic-free biomaterials. Arda’s first transformation is turning spent grain from the beer brewing and whisky distilling industries into a novel, leather-like material called New Grain, for use in fashion, automotive, and other sectors.

      Fab Materials
      Fab Materials are on a mission to deliver planet scale upcycling of the world’s post-consumer fashion waste. Our breakthrough solution addresses the 90M tonnes of clothing that’s sent to landfill or incinerated annually. We convert hard to recycle fashion waste into valuable boards and composites.

      Fibe
      Fibe is revolutionising the industry by engineering cutting-edge technology to extract cellulosic fibres from potato harvest waste. This untapped waste, which amounts to 150M tonnes annually and cannot be fed to livestock or compost, has the potential to provide 70% of global non-synthetic clothing demand. Our fibres use 99% less water, produce 82% less CO2e and require no land compared to cotton.

      Fiiba
      Fiiba is a next generation textile developer, scaling sustainable materials for the fashion industry made from 100% agricultural waste. Fiiba fibre has 1/10 the carbon footprint of conventional cotton and a 100% transparent supply chain. Fiiba raises low-income farmers out of poverty by paying for their waste and providing free organic fertiliser (a natural by-product of Fiiba’s innovation) that promotes long-term soil health.

      Oxford Biopigments
      Oxford Biopigments (OBP) mission is to solve key problems associated with sustainable textile dyeing. To this end we have developed a world first in plant-based, sustainable dyes: naturally lightfast dye molecules, modified to work without additional binding agents, that are easily blended to generate new colours and are compatible with existing dyeing machinery. Crucially, our dyes have equivalent technical performance to modern synthetic dyes without the harmful environmental impact.

      PACT
      PACT designs elegant biomaterials made in harmony with the planet Earth. We’re committed to helping the world’s most innovative companies dream without boundaries. Our first biomaterial Oval is inspired by generations of leather artisans and master craftspeople, Oval is a supple material made from collagen sourced from industrial by-products. It’s a highly scalable material that offers designers unparalleled flexibility whilst minimising environmental impacts across the entire production process.

      Sequinova
      Sequinova is a pioneering biomaterials company, revolutionising the textiles industry with cutting-edge biodegradable sequin materials. Plant-based, non-toxic, and available in a variety of colours and effects, we’ve partnered with the world’s leading manufacturers in Europe and Asia to deliver production-ready eco textiles at scale.

      The Seam
      The Seam delivers wardrobe care & repair at scale, pairing local, specialist Makers with people and brands to keep fashion out of landfill, and in the loop. The Seam is the fastest growing care and repair service in the UK powered by intelligent tech. Their network of specialists includes tailors, cobblers, leather restorers, knitwear menders, skewer cleaners, embroidery artists and so much more.

      TRUSS
      TRUSS is a London-based fashion technology SME focused on enhancing the second-hand fashion market through AI solutions and in-depth research. TRUSS aims to simplify the resale process through instant access to actionable data, removing the need for online research and manual data entry, while prioritising information and narratives.

      Zori Tex
      Zori Tex is a climate tech start-up on a mission to drive circularity in the hugely resource intensive fashion and textiles industry through innovative AI-powered technologies – combining machine vision and the latest deep learning networks to optimise the sorting and availability of complex non-reusable feedstocks, ready for closed loop recycling.


      This year’s Manufacturing Futures prize will include:


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      Evo Fashion Applications for Round Two Opened at Tech Talks

      Last week, we hosted Evo Fashion: Tech Talks in collaboration with Evo Learning at The Trampery Fish Island Village.

      Celebrating the launch of applications for the second round of Evo Fashion, specifically tailored to fashion technology businesses, attendees found out more about the programme and specialist facilitators, experienced rapid-fire talks on all things fashion tech, and connected with industry peers.

      Kicking off the evening, we heard from leading industry experts as they discussed the latest trends and developments in fashion technology. From the dynamic intersections between technology and sustainability, to delving into the realms of digital and phygital fashion, read on to find out what went down at this jam-packed evening event.  

      Fashion Tech Trends and Developments with The Fashion Innovation Agency

      First up, Lisa Chatterton, Business Manager at Fashion Innovation Agency, took to the stage to present the latest trends in fashion tech with a focus on innovations that could support the transition towards a more sustainable fashion industry.

      Speaking about the FIA’s latest work, Lisa dived into a range of topics including photogrammetry, digital humans, deepfake technology and generative AI. ‘You no longer have to fly a model up a mountain, you can do it all virtually,’ said Lisa. ‘By taking a digital asset into a virtual environment, one photoshoot can have endless possibilities.’

      ‘With digital fashion improving, exciting virtual experiences will be on the cards. This will lead to expansive fashion communication with potential for widespread impact. For example, moving beyond the walls of physical catwalk shows which are often limited to a certain number of people, designers can have real time AI generated catwalks which can be open to everyone.’ 

      After her presentation, Lisa took questions from the audience. When asked to pick one area of technology that would be most useful for the future of the fashion industry, Lisa didn’t hesitate. ‘Generative AI is going to have the most impact,’ she told the audience. ‘As I’ve shown, it can be used as a creative tool and it can help behind the scenes. You can use it to be an expert consultant in a particular field, whereas previously you’d have to spend thousands of pounds to get that advice.’ 

      ‘I think people are nervous of AI because they don’t necessarily understand it and people think it will take their jobs. But at the same time, the genie’s out of the bottle now. If you don’t start getting your head around it and how you can deploy it within your business, you’ll get behind because everyone else will be catching up!’ 

      Phygital Fashion with Stephy Fung and Muchaneta Ten Napel

      Next, Muchaneta Ten Napel, Founder of Shape Innovate, hosted a conversation with trailblazing digital artist Stephy Fung. Having just been included in Forbes 30 Under 30 list for Art and Culture, Stephy introduced herself by highlighting her USP: ‘digital first, physical second.’

      Speaking about her background in graphic design, Stephy said, ‘I did not set out to become a fashion designer, but I took an interest in 3D and 3D animation. I have always naturally gravitated towards animation and storytelling. I think you can see that in my work. The clothes aren’t just garments. I like to put them in a scene and give them a ‘home.’ I love to tell a story.’

      When asked by Muchaneta about challenges she’s faced in the industry, Stephy admitted she’s struggled with turning her 3D animations into physical designs. ‘I’m currently working with a company called Phygital Twin. They’ve got incredible fashion knowledge, from pattern-making to manufacturing connections. Because I don’t come from a fashion background, I need help to make my designs physical. The way I design on a programme might not necessarily work or be practical for physical production. That’s one thing that I’ve struggled with and I’ve had to learn along the way whilst working with Phygital Twin. Also, in my opinion, creating digital pieces will always be a lot cheaper compared to making physical ones, so that’s another challenge.’ 

      In response to Muchaneta’s question about the link between digital fashion and sustainability, Stephy remarked, ‘I think a lot of brands will take on digital and replace some parts of their pipeline to speed up testing or use AI to conceptualise and visualise. Even with 3D avatars, you don’t need to get a model to come in, you can test online or change the cut, it’s a lot quicker and more efficient than the regular process.’ 

      To wrap up the conversation, Muchaneta posed one last question. ‘What about companies who can’t afford to use digital technology, what would you recommend?’ 

      ‘There are a lot of free AI programmes out there that you can test out,’ answered Stephy. ‘Before you pay for anything, look for free programmes first and make sure to use all the free trials they offer!’

      Manufacturing Tech with Shana Chu and Muchaneta Ten Napel

      After a quick interval where attendees tucked into delectable canapes and grabbed a drink at the free bar, we were back for another conversation hosted by Muchaneta Ten Napel with Shana Chu, Founder of Tailr, who hopes to redefine garment production by using AI technology. 

      Having worked as a brand technologist for a number of years, Shana saw first-hand how disconnected brands were from their supply chains. ‘A lot of things get lost in translation,’ said Shana, ‘which is where I got the idea for my business.’

      ‘Essentially, we digitise the nuances of how the fabric is actually created. We get down to the yarn, the composition, the finishing, the spinning, the weaving, the make of the machine, the tension, the density of the yarn. We even look at where the yarn came from – for example, how was the cotton grown? How was the season? Are things consistent from last season? How is all of that going to affect production for the brand?’

      ‘Ultimately we aim to reduce waste by making sure nothing goes wrong. Did you know, on average, 20% of production comes in wrong for brands? That 20% is often shipped to landfill. Our goal is to remove that element and we will do that by ensuring that things are perfect at factory level.’ 

      Offering advice for emerging brands and startups, Shana said, ‘Don’t be bullied when you know what’s best for your company. It’s important that you have the guts to say no, I don’t want to do it that way. When you’re starting out, you try to listen to all the advice people want to give you, but it can be overwhelming. Listen to what resonates with you.’ 

      When asked by Muchaneta about emotional challenges she faced, such as imposter syndrome, Shana responded candidly, saying, ‘You know that saying ‘fake it til you make it’? It did help. Sometimes I do have to pretend that I’m super confident. But what I’ve learnt along the way is this: don’t be shy of your vision, don’t be afraid to be ambitious, and don’t be afraid to sell what you want. If AI has done anything, it’s shown us that those big visions are absolutely possible.’

      From securing £700,000 as a sole female founder, to assembling a team of eight people and presently raising £5 million, Shana’s insight on funding was invaluable. ‘Before you get to the investor stage, try to take part in competitions. I won the best new startup company in Ireland and I got £50,000. I got that to build my MVP. You don’t necessarily need to go straight to investors to get funding. There are a lot of opportunities out there.’ 

      Introduction to Evo Fashion for Fashion Tech Businesses

      To conclude the evening, Helen Lax, Director of Fashion District, took to the stage to present a comprehensive overview of the Evo Fashion programme.

      Designed to fit in with work commitments and delivered by experts, the fully-funded five-month programme consists of a two-day intensive launchpad and four full-day masterclasses which will focus on different aspects of learning, including environmental and ethical practice, business and financial planning, marketing and storytelling, founder wellbeing, sustainable growth and much more. 

      ‘Peppered in amongst the sessions and masterclasses,’ Helen told the audience, ‘there will also be panels and talks, a 1-2-1 business diagnostic, three peer-to-peer learning workshops, a creative photoshoot, and the chance to present your brand at an industry showcase.’ 

      ‘To be eligible you must be a registered business based in London. You must employ 2-5 people and you must have been trading for 18 months,’ said Helen. ‘You must also have turnover or investment of a minimum of £50k in the last financial year. If you’re unsure about whether you’re eligible, please get in touch with the Fashion District team.’ 

      With an incredible selection panel for the second cohort, including Brooke Roberts-Islam, Founder of Techstyler; Tom Adeyoola, Entrepreneur, Investor and Advisor; Lisa Chatterton, Business Manager, Fashion Innovation Agency; Charles Armstrong, CEO of The Trampery, and Helen Lax, Director of Fashion District, applications are now open and will close at midnight on 3rd June 2024. 

      Find out more and apply for the second round of Evo Fashion now via the button below.


      Got a question? Please get in touch with us at fashion@evolearning.co with any queries about the programme, content, facilitators, application form, and eligibility.

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      Evo Fashion: Cohort One Announced!

      As we anticipate the arrival of Spring, we’re gearing up for new opportunities, and one that we’re most looking forward to at Fashion District is our Evo Fashion Programme.

      This comprehensive five-month experiential programme caters to emerging brands and fashion technology ventures. After calling for applications throughout December and January, we’re now thrilled to unveil the first businesses selected for the programme.

      What is Evo Fashion?

      With a holistic approach to business strategy, the Evo Fashion programme focuses on supply chain sustainability, ethical working standards, market channels, and investment readiness. Activities include a two-day intensive launchpad, masterclasses, and peer-to-peer learning, designed to accommodate work commitments and culminate in an industry showcase. Co-delivered by Fashion District and Evo Learning, Evo Fashion will run twice, with the first programme tailored for emerging designers and fashion brands, and the second programme spotlighting fashion technology businesses.

      Evo Fashion is part of the Grow London Early Stage programme, powered by London & Partners – a business support programme for early-stage growth companies active in high growth sectors that support sustainable and inclusive growth in London. The programme is funded by the UK Government through the UK Shared Prosperity Fund.

      Meet the Selection Panel

      With an esteemed selection panel of industry leaders, including Helen Lax, Director of Fashion District; Charles Armstrong, Founder and CEO of Evo Learning and The Trampery; Vanessa Podmore, Founder of Podmore Consulting; Bianca Saunders, Founder, Creative Director, and Designer of Bianca Saunders; and Yvie Hutton, Director of Designer Relations & Membership at the British Fashion Council, each member was strategically chosen for their unique expertise. 

      Bianca brings invaluable experience in fashion brand development, while Yvie has a rich background in nurturing emerging designers within the BFC community. Vanessa’s expertise lies in fashion sustainability. Together, the panel’s collective insight enabled them to assess applicants’ potential for business success and their commitment to integrating sustainability into their ventures. 

      The panel convened at The Trampery Fish Island Village in early February to meticulously review each submission, individually score the applications, and select the inaugural cohort of successful businesses for the programme.

      Introducing the Inaugural Cohort

      After much deliberation, here are the sixteen businesses selected for the first Evo Fashion programme: 

      ANCIELA

      ANCIELA is a London-based sustainable luxury womenswear label that blends South American folklore with an outsider’s perspective living in London, offering experimental tailoring and Ready-To-Wear pieces inspired by art, literature and historical costumes. Committed to sustainability, the brand champions hand-crafted designs and supports Latinx creatives, showcasing cultural diversity through fashion.

      Asmuss

      Asmuss, founded by sisters Clare and Fiona, crafts ethically and environmentally responsible garments for the modern active woman, blending innovation and nature to design versatile, sustainable pieces. Committed to inclusivity and ethical production, Asmuss offers technically intelligent, renewable fabrics and season-less silhouettes, all made in the UK by social enterprise Making for Change or co-founder Clare, ensuring kindness to both body and planet.

      BEEN LONDON

      Hailed as ‘one of the most innovative fashion brands in the world’ by British Vogue, BEEN LONDON creates versatile, timeless accessories from discarded materials, challenging fashion sustainability norms. Founded by ex-BBC journalist Genia Mineeva in 2018, the brand’s mission is to divert waste from landfill, crafting beautiful, high-quality products with minimal environmental footprint. 

      Clara Chu

      Clara Chu, founded by London-based multidisciplinary artist and designer Clara Chu, specialises in redefining fashion accessories. Through a unique blend of everyday mundanity and vibrant pop art, the brand transforms overlooked items like mops, toasters, and toothbrushes into wearable accessories. Merging mass production with hand-craftsmanship, Clara’s visionary products challenge conventional fashion norms, blurring boundaries between high and low culture while highlighting the importance of community involvement in creating a sustainable fashion ecosystem.

      Colèchi

      Colèchi is a research and events agency dedicated to advancing sustainable development in the fashion industry by working to humanise clothing through curation, workshops, and insight. Collaborating with a collective spanning growers, weavers, designers, and recyclers, they deliver research projects, curate events, and are currently expanding their product range, which includes their debut print journal AGREENCULTURE and a forthcoming capsule collection featuring UK alpaca wool.

      Everyday Phenomenal

      Everyday Phenomenal is a sustainable womenswear brand based in London that harmonises style and comfort with the ethos of wellbeing and mindfulness. Their collections feature essential wardrobe staples crafted with quality, accessibility, and empowerment in mind, inviting women to embrace their best selves. Each garment is paired with a QR code linked to their wellness hub, “THE CIRCLE OF FEELING GOOD,” promoting mindfulness and holistic wellness.

      Fashion Meets Music

      Fashion Meets Music is a community interest company led by Lizzy Lambie and Dennica Abdo, based in the Croydon Creatives zone, that transforms unused spaces into vibrant retail and event experiences. They fuse runway shows, live music acts, art, pop-up vendors, and networking to engage underrepresented communities in enterprise, education, and employment while offering end-to-end guidance and support for individuals or brands aiming to elevate their ideas and dreams.

      Isla de Gar

      Isla de Gar is a slow fashion handbag brand founded in 2020 by award-winning designer Emma Garner that infuses joy, togetherness, warmth, and humanity into its sculptural, tactile creations. Handmade to order in their London studio, each piece is inspired by the natural world and invites wearers to a realm where art is wearable and happiness knows no bounds.

      Kyle Ho

      Kyle Ho is a luxury menswear brand dedicated to elevating traditional tailoring through intricate details and a revolutionary design philosophy, with an eco-conscious, made-to-order business model. Operating on a pre-order system, each custom-made item significantly reduces environmental impact and resource usage, while sourcing materials from local UK vendors supports local merchants while reducing the carbon footprint. 

      Mirla Beane

      Mirla Beane is an ethical brand offering inclusive prices and sizing, supporting the next generation of designers while delivering sophisticated yet fun, sustainable designs with bold prints and pops of colour. Named after their children and grandchildren, each piece is made with care, ensuring uniqueness and kindness to the planet through small production runs and attention to sustainable and ethical accreditation of fabrics and makers.

      NEW STANDARD

      NEW STANDARD footwear embodies sustainability as the standard, drawing inspiration from Joe Strummer’s ethos of rejecting substandard quality for a better world. With a focus on longevity, high quality, and timeless design, each pair is crafted using non-plastic materials and durable construction techniques, ensuring minimal environmental impact and a timeless aesthetic that complements any capsule wardrobe. Situated in Hackney, London’s historical shoe-making hub, their expertise, honed through designing for renowned figures and legends in various fields, ensures a deep understanding of footwear craftsmanship.

      OMNISS

      OMNISS, an ethical fashion and lifestyle brand rooted in character-driven storytelling, is based at the heart of London’s Fashion District in Hackney Wick. Founded by Asya Ter-Hovakimyan and Francisco Zhou, their commitment to transparency in the supply chain and collaboration with women-led small enterprises in Armenia honours craftsmanship while creating products that transcend conventional demographics, designed for dreamers, zeitgeists, and visionaries. The brand has earned recognition at London Fashion Week and in notable publications like Forbes and Drapers. 

      Percy Langley

      Percy Langley offers beautiful clothing for real women from a collective of independent designers championing the slow fashion movement, showcasing seasonal edits that embody a modern British aesthetic with investment pieces designed to endure and British-made garments renowned for superior quality. With a focus on sustainability and conscientious consumerism, they empower customers to make informed and responsible buying decisions while supporting designers dedicated to slowing down clothing production and prioritising eco-conscious practices.

      Pomi and Seeds

      Pomi and Seeds revolutionises lingerie by offering sustainably made, inclusive, and empowering solutions for women using design thinking, technology, and circularity approaches. Recognising the dissatisfaction with conventional offerings, Pomi and Seeds meets this demand with a diverse product line, featuring lingerie made from sustainable fibres and catering to cup sizes DD+ and up to size 24. Beyond comfortable and ethical lingerie, they prioritise diversity, inclusion, and global initiatives that empower women and promote social impact, envisioning a transformative future for the industry.

      ZERØ London

      ZERØ London creates quality menswear using innovative zero waste design techniques, reducing fabric waste by up to 15% compared to traditional methods and aligning with the UK’s commitment to carbon neutrality by 2050. Motivated by the 60 billion square metres of fabric wasted through the cutting process annually, the brand is on a mission to end fashion waste. Their products are internationally available and proudly crafted in London, employing a local supply chain to ensure accountability and minimal carbon impact.


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