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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.
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.
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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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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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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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.
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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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.
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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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.
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!’
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!’
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.’
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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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.
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.
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.
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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Last week we celebrated the launch of Manufacturing Futures 2024 at a sold-out event at The Trampery.
Marking Fashion District’s sixth innovation challenge, this year the focus is on technological innovations and sustainable solutions that are solving any of the complex fashion manufacturing challenges facing the industry. Helen Lax, Director of Fashion District, described the event as a gathering of individuals that share ‘the same ethos, values and ideas for the future of fashion and sustainability.’
Kicking off the event was keynote speaker Lauren Bartley, Chief Sustainability Officer at GANNI, who gave insight into GANNI’s strategy and how they work with innovation. ‘GANNI has a very very ambitious goal to reduce its carbon emissions by 50% by 2027,’ Lauren said. ‘The materials we use account for 50% of our carbon impact, making this our primary window of opportunity. It’s also where Ganni should focus as materials represent one of our most significant decarbonisation levers.’
Lauren also highlighted GANNI’s Fabrics of the Future initiative. ‘Fabrics of the Future is an internal research and development hub that scans the market for fabrics that will change the industry. At this point we’re working with thirty different material creators that have solutions or new innovations for materials. By 2025 the goal is that 10% of our materials should be coming from fabrics of the future.’
One of the material creators GANNI have collaborated with is London-based biotech company Modern Synthesis. Lauren invited Jen Keane, CEO of Modern Synthesis, on stage to discuss their recent partnership.
Having developed a new class of biomaterials, Modern Synthesis works with bacteria to produce a type of non-woven textile that can be used to displace materials like leather, and in the future replace a wide variety of coated textiles. Modern Synthesis partnered with GANNI to reimagine their staple Bou Bag in their new innovative bacterial nanocellulose material. The handbag was unveiled at the London Design Festival 2023.
Explaining why Modern Synthesis reached out to GANNI to propose a potential collaboration, Jen said, ‘As a startup that makes materials, we can’t do it all. We need to actually make the impact that we want to drive and so we have to get it into a product. We need brands and partners across the whole supply chain to make that possible. We contacted GANNI because they have such a strong perspective in this space and actually take action. Very few brands have innovation departments.’
Lauren rounded up the conversation by saying: ‘I hope that what you’ll take away from our talk today is that GANNI relies heavily on innovations like Modern Synthesis to meet our sustainability goals, and vice versa. Jen needs brands like GANNI to secure investment and effectively implement these technologies. It’s important not to underestimate the value of partnership.’’
Offering one final tip to the audience Jen said, ‘Don’t give up! It’s hard but we’re gonna get there. My biggest advice is to collaborate as much as possible. You can’t do everything yourself. Figure out what you’re good at, what you’re not good at, and find friends to do the things you’re not good at.’
Helen Lax then took to the stage to introduce this year’s innovation challenge, Manufacturing Futures 2024. ‘This year, we’re seeking innovative ideas, businesses, and startups that can benefit the fashion industry by offering sustainable solutions for various aspects of the supply chain.’
To be eligible for the challenge, applicants must have a tech-based solution, be a registered business, and either be operating in the UK or have plans to pilot or operate in the UK. The winner will take home £15,000, as well as receiving business support from PANGAIA, one-year complimentary UKFT membership, one-year workspace membership at The Trampery and one-year platform membership from Common Objective. The runners-up will receive £5,000 each, one-year UKFT membership and one-year platform membership from Common Objective.
Finalists will attend a one-day event in May where high-level industry professionals will act as ‘critical friends’ to support and challenge their business proposition, and provide constructive feedback; as well as two Development Days focused around production and investment. Finalists will also be invited to join the celebratory Fashion District Innovation Awards and Investment Supper in July, attended by influential members of the fashion, tech and investment industry.
After running through the details of this year’s manufacturing challenge, it was time to hear from our incredible judging panel: Chelsea Franklin, Head of Advanced Concept Design, PANGAIA; Adam Mansell, CEO, UKFT; Gillian Lipton, Head of Sustainability, Alexander McQueen; Ella Gould, Head of Circularity and Innovation, Selfridges, and Matthew Drinkwater, Head of Fashion Innovation Agency, UAL: London College of Fashion.
Discussing their criteria for the challenge, Matthew Drinkwater said, ‘Above all, I want to feel excitement for an application that I’m reading. It’s that magical moment…you want to transform the innovation into a real thing.’
Ella Gould added, ‘I’m always sceptical when someone comes to me with big tech and they only talk about the technology. Come to me with a problem, tell me the problem that you’re solving or why you’re doing something better. That for me is when the juices start flowing and I get really inspired.’
Gillian Lipton stressed the importance of time. ‘For me it’s all about finding a solution that is scalable, but also that I don’t have to wait too long for. I’m aware that things take time, in terms of innovation and new materials, but we don’t have time!’
Adam Mansell stated the biggest problem for him was volume. ‘I love new materials, new materials are fantastic, but if someone came up with a concept that would allow us to take all the cotton, polyester, and wool that we use, capture it, recycle it, get it manufactured in the UK, that gets my vote. You’d get lifetime membership to UKFT if you can solve that! But genuinely that’s where the problem is. That’s where the focus really needs to be.’
Chelsea Franklin urged applicants to consider the customer. ‘Functionality is obviously very important in terms of innovation performance, but also understanding how to convince a consumer to buy something, such as an alternative fabric – why? If the price is so much more significant, why should they purchase it? How do you tell that story? Build that narrative?’
The event concluded with key advice from the judges. Matthew Drinkwater advised applicants to think about clarity of message. ‘What problem are you solving? Answer all of those questions fully and critically, and you stand a really good chance of getting through.’
Chelsea Franklin echoed this. ‘Articulating your vision is a skill in itself. We want to know what problem you’re solving, problem solution framing, and why we should care. If you can answer that clearly and visually that’s my top tip.’
‘Don’t bring me something that’s been done five years ago,’ Adam said. ‘Do your homework. Do proper market research. Also read the application questions carefully and answer them clearly. Look at the finances bit, because it’s really important that you’re thinking beyond the initial. Think about what the future looks like, and don’t tell me that you’re going to be a billion pound turnover company in five years time. It’s hard work. It takes a lot of effort and collaboration and that should not be why you’re in this space, you should be in this space to solve a problem.’
Do you think you’ve got what it takes to manufacture a new sustainable solution? Want to be in with a chance of winning £15,000? Applications for Manufacturing Futures 2024 are now open!
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Thursday 8 Feb | 18:00 – 20:30
The Ballroom, The Trampery, 239 Old Street, London, EC1V 9EY
We’re delighted to announce the launch of our next innovation challenge Manufacturing Futures 2024, hosted in partnership with The Trampery, a purpose-led enterprise providing workspace, training and management for London’s trailblazing businesses. Join us on 8th February to find out more about next year’s challenge, hear from leading figures in fashion sustainability, and network with London’s fashion, tech and innovation communities.
To help us launch the challenge, we’ll be hearing from Lauren Bartley, Chief Sustainability Officer at GANNI and Jen Keane, CEO of Modern Synthesis, one of our Manufacturing Futures 2021 winners. Lauren will present a keynote on embedding innovative sustainable solutions into a large brand, followed by a discussion with Jen about how the GANNI x Modern Synthesis partnership came about.
Afterwards, we’ll launch next year’s challenge brief, followed by a ‘meet the judges’ panel, where attendees will get the opportunity to learn more about our judges and find out their criteria for selecting the winners. The evening will conclude with networking, drinks and nibbles.
Agenda:
About The Challenge
Fashion District’s annual Innovation Challenges are designed to find solutions to current industry issues, while supporting new innovations and SMEs. Next year, we’re running our second ‘Manufacturing Futures’ challenge, to support technological innovations and sustainable solutions which are solving any of the complex fashion manufacturing challenges facing the industry. This could include anything from:
We also seek to encourage tech solutions, perhaps from other sectors, that could be applied to fashion manufacturing and create interdisciplinary connections between technologists and engineers, and fashion creatives and manufacturers.
Applicants will be in with the chance of winning cash prizes, business support, and the opportunity to pitch to some of the industry’s leading brands and innovators.
MEET OUR JUDGES
Manufacturing Futures 2024 brings together high-profile fashion, technology and sustainability experts committed to supporting the next wave of innovation. Come along to the launch to hear from our esteemed judging panel, including:
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Last week we launched Evo Fashion, our free five-month business support programme that will be running throughout 2024.
Taking place at The Trampery Fish Island Village, the event offered attendees the chance to hear from industry experts, learn more about the Evo Fashion programme and network with London’s sustainable fashion community over drinks and delicious canapés from Palm Greens.
Speaking to the crowd, Helen Lax, Director of Fashion District, said ‘We are looking forward to the next evolution of fashion and the power of fashion designers and fashion technology businesses who are thinking about embedding sustainability into all of their business practices.’
The programme, which is part of the Grow London Early Stage programme by London & Partners, and funded by the UK Shared Prosperity Fund, is designed to help early stage fashion businesses drive growth and integrate sustainability into every aspect of their businesses.
Image credit: Christian Sinibaldi
Evo Fashion in Action
Kicking off the event, Safia Minney, Founder of Fashion Declares, took to the stage with Debbie Luffman, Director of Think Circular, and Ngoni Chikwenengere, Founder of We Are KIN, for the ‘Evo Fashion in Action’ conversation.
Giving context to the need for sustainable innovations, Safia spoke about fashion’s impact on climate ecosystems. ‘We all know that overconsumption is driving a desperate situation. Currently, five percent of greenhouse gas emissions are said to be produced by the fashion and textile industry. That’s set to increase to twenty-five percent by 2050. We can’t let that happen. Fashion needs to move now.’
Talking about the ethical and sustainable practices she uses in her clothing brand, We Are KIN, Ngoni Chikwenengere told the audience, ‘One of the first things I wrote down when writing my business plan was my mission statement: ‘people and planet over profit.’ That’s my ethos and it’s what the entire brand is built on.’ Since launching five years ago, Ngoni is still staying true to her brand’s message with all of her clothes being manufactured in East London. ‘I want to know exactly what’s going on so I often drop by the factory because I want to see the conditions people are working in. The people who work there are paid a living wage, they look happy and the environment is clean. In terms of the fabrics, the cotton, linen, and wool are all sourced in the UK. We also use deadstock fabrics.’
When asked for her tips on securing deadstock fabric, Ngoni said, ‘If you don’t ask, you don’t get. It’s important to talk to people and ask lots of questions.’
Debbie Luffman, Director of Think Circular, echoed the same sentiment. ‘To become fully sustainable as a brand you have to ask questions and refuse to settle for anything less.’
‘Change in our industry needs to be louder, because the larger organisations are listening – they really are well aware of the issues – but it can be harder for them to change. That’s why I say don’t rush to be a professional outfit too soon. This is your moment to get things right from the beginning stages of your brand and think about embedding sustainability into every aspect of your business, which many big brands are struggling with now.’
Afterwards the floor opened to questions, with one audience member asking whether consumers were ready for change. ‘Consumers are definitely ready,’ Ngoni said. ‘Shoppers love being at the forefront of innovation. If someone is offering you something new, shiny and sustainable or the same old thing, we all know we would choose the first option. Last November, I sold 800 units in one month, all made to order. The demand is there.’
Debbie said, ‘I think you have to think about the way you make your customer feel. I’m not sure if they care about fabric if I’m really honest with you, but how does it make them feel? Your job is storytelling. Tell the story. Where did it come from? What’s the provenance? What’s it going to do for them? That’s the narrative.’
Another audience member asked whether the panel thought there was competition between small sustainable fashion brands which creates contradiction when setting out to build a better planet. ‘If you share the same value models then you shouldn’t be in competition,’ Debbie answered. ‘In my opinion, IP doesn’t make sense anymore. We should have open source material that’s shared and serves each other. Different brand identities is the creative difference. I think we need to unpack the word ‘sustainable’ and have that open source collaborative mentality to break down those boundaries. You need to build opportunities where you both win.’
Introduction to Evo Fashion
Next up, Helen Lax took to the stage to present a comprehensive overview of the Evo Fashion programme. ‘There will be two programmes running throughout the year,’ explained Helen, ‘the first for fashion designers and the second for fashion technology businesses. Both are tailored to support innovation across the different subsectors of fashion.’
Designed to fit in with work commitments and delivered by experts, the programme will consist of a two-day intensive launchpad and four full-day masterclasses which will focus 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 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 Fashion District’s Manufacturing Futures 2024 Industry Showcase to a room full of investors, brands, startups and innovators.
‘In terms of eligibility, 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. ‘We have to be able to tell from the application that you want to grow. By this I mean, growing to the scale that you want to grow to in the way that you want to grow. We want to see that you’ve got the ambition to make your business work and succeed sustainably and financially.’
With an incredible selection panel for the first cohort, 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, applications opened last Wednesday and will close at midnight on 18th January 2024.
Closing the event, Deborah Latouche, founder of luxury modest wear brand SABIRAH, joined Helen on stage to discuss her experience of our previous sustainable accelerator programme. ‘Despite being held during the pandemic, the programme was really great,’ said Deborah. ‘It solidified for me a lot of the things I was already thinking about. I had always questioned the wholesale model, and so after doing the course I knew it was right for my brand to continue being demi-couture – made to order, made to measure. The fabrics are also all predominately end of life too.’
Speaking about her experience with Vanessa Podmore, who will be one of the Evo Fashion mentors next year, Deborah said, ‘My 1-2-1 masterclass with Vanessa was mind-blowing. She has a world of knowledge and I definitely think the course is well worth applying for.’
Are you ready to take your business to the next level? Applications for Evo Fashion are now open!
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All images by Christian Sinibaldi