I'm joined today by 3 amazing people that work tirelessly in the UK fashion and textile industry.

You may have seen in the press recently that several high profile brands have been affected by the close of Matches, but did you know about the knock on affect that has had on the UK manufacturers?

I also heard yesterday the sad news that the Mackintosh factory in Lancashire is closing. What the heck is going on?

So I went live on Instagram with 3 special guests to discuss the topic, and this episode is your opportunity to hear the full discussion if you missed the live.

My guests are:

Tamara Cincik from think tank Fashion Roundtable

Mustafa Fuat from Gosha London

Diana Kakkar from Maes London

Some of the keys points we discussed:

• How the Matches collapse has impacted local manufacturers.
• The financial instability of fashion brands.
• Why the industry needs to be regulated.
• How other countries support their local production.
• How public procurement buying British could help the entire industry.
• The grants and tax credits needed to make local production more affordable.
• Why lobbying for changes in government policies is essential.
• The need for STEAM education, putting creativity back on the curriculum.

Watch the original Instagram live here