Dame Natalie Massenet celebrates "greatest fashion capital in the world"

By

Cajsa Lykke Carlson

Published
Feb 19, 2016

As London Fashion Week gets underway, Natalie Massenet has confirmed that she will stay on as the Chairman of the British Fashion Council.

Massenet also just received her damehood at Buckingham Palace. She said: "It has been 3 years since I first set out our vision to reposition British fashion in the global economy as one that champions Creativity, Innovation and Business. We set out five clear pillars, run by six superb presidents and supported by committees made up of an incredibly strong network of volunteers to work alongside the British Fashion Council in our mission to make London the strongest and most exciting global fashion capital. I strongly believe that we have achieved this, and more."

She revealed that the BFC has conducted a survey of 153 British designers, which will become an annual thing. "Our designer survey shows that our micro businesses have grown by over 110% in the past three years and are forecasting a more ambitious growth plan for the next three years. Alongside our healthy designer sector we have just commissioned our next Value of Fashion update and look forward to presenting that to you in due course," she said.

Massenet said that of the 153 businesses surveyed, the BFC had "either directly or indirectly" supported the majority of them. This week will also see the soft launch of the BFC's Designer Fact File, which is an online resource that will grow and develop over the next year to offer advice and information to many more businesses. Over 2,000 businesses have already registered.

The Chairman, who spoke to BFC funders, sponsors, patrons and press at HIX in Soho, concluded: "I believe that London is really the greatest fashion capital in the world, the centre of creative talent, a hub of technological innovation and a vibrant business community - with Fashion Week at its creative and commercial
heart - attended by thousands and watched by Millions worldwide.