Fashion and design : Future trends

Alternative sources of clothing and footwear

A large majority of clothing and footwear lines are imported into the UK. China and Hong Kong are the leading exporters, but UK imports as a whole are spread across a range of countries.

UK companies will continue to pursue new labour markets that produce good-quality products at a fraction of current costs.

High-street competition

Competition among sectors is fierce. Department stores (e.g. Debenhams), chains such as Marks & Spencer (M&S) and Primark, supermarkets (e.g. ASDA and Tesco) and sports chains such as JJB Sports are all in competition with specialist retailers, both multiples (led by Next and Arcadia) and independent boutiques.

Fast fashion

An increase in value supermarkets and high street retailers fashion has developed the speed at which garments are produced and manufactured. Increasing consumerism has led to people buying a third more garments than four years ago (see Fashioning an Ethical Industry: Factsheet 13, The Ecologist, 2007).   

Ethical fashion

Globalisation and fast fashion have developed a growing culture of ethical fashion, focusing on the social and environmental conditions in which garments are made. Sustainability or eco fashion has established networks and initiatives such as Ethical Fashion Forum  and Better Cotton Initiative  to focus upon social, environmental and economic sustainability in the fashion industry. Big corporations such as GAP, H&M, Marks & Spencer and Adidas have representatives on the Better Cotton Initiative Steering Committee.

Labour Behind The Label is a campaign supporting garment workers' efforts worldwide to improve their working conditions, through awareness raising, information provision and encouraging international solidarity between workers and consumers. 

The 'British Style' (designer fashion)

There is an increasing demand for UK designer fashion, particularly formal outerwear, cashmere knitwear and men’s shoes and suiting fabrics, which require high level quality from UK manufacturers. Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) figures show UK apparel and footwear sales have increased overseas and found a successful niche in both domestic and export markets.

DCMS reports that between 1997-2006 demand for high quality British designer fashion grew from £280million to £450million. This had an impact of doubling the growth of businesses from 1,400 to 2,800, increasing employment from 80,700 to 130,700.

Technology

The competitiveness of the fashion industry relies on companies continually adopting and adjusting to new emerging technology in various areas, such as computer aided design, processing and materials technologies. Labour-saving textile production technologies such as 3D knitting and development of non-woven fabrics and fibres has had a major impact on garment production and employment in the industry. With organisations opening up their products to online retailing and selling direct, creates an easier management of production and supply (Strategic Skills Assessment for the Fashion and Textiles Sector in the UK, Skillset 2010).