The British Fashion Council (BFC) hosted its annual summer drinks at the Serpentine Pavilion in Kensington Gardens, London. The BFC community and industry leaders came together to celebrate British fashion and culture with a debut speech from Laura Weir, CEO, BFC and DJ sets from Zezi Ifore and Nick Grimshaw. The event featured an experiential dessert table created by Stolzes.
Guests included: Laura Weir, David Pemsel, Nick Grimshaw, Zezi Ifore, Yvonne Orji, Harris Reed, Olivia Neill, Charles Jeffery, Christopher Kane, Emilia Wickstead, Laura Lowena-Irons, Emma Chopova, Marco Capaldo, Craig Green, Henry Holland, Foday Dumbuya, Sinead O’Dwyer, Aaron Esh, Charlie Casely-Hayford, Jordan Stephens, Elizabeth Day, Fat Tony, Princess Julia, Maxim Magnus, Emmanuel Lawal, Elizabeth Saltzman, Flag Twins and James Corbin.
David Pemsel, Chair, British Fashion Council, speech:
"Good evening, everyone.
It’s a pleasure to welcome you to the Serpentine Pavilion, designed this year by the extraordinary architect Marina Tabassum.
To quote Marina, “the Pavilion will have the capacity, to hopefully, embrace everyone who is there – people from different backgrounds, different diversities, coming together and celebrating humanity”
The perfect backdrop for an evening, celebrating British fashion and its role within the wider creative and cultural landscape of the UK.
Tonight, we are joined by those from across the fashion industry, and by friends and colleagues from the broader creative industries, government, business, and culture.
This evening is a celebration - about recognising the vital role fashion plays in our national identity, our economy, and our influence on the world stage.
I want to thank you –
The BFC’s strength comes from its community—300 members, 65 patrons, our commercial partners and a global network that spans design, business, culture and commerce.
We are at a pivotal moment.
We’ve worked hard with government—across the Department of Business and Trade, Department of Culture Media and Sport and the GLA, through the Mayor of London - to advocate for sustainable investment in fashion as a driver of growth.
In June, Government announced its Creative Industries Sector Vision—a ten-year plan that, for the first time, places fashion clearly within its scope. This is a significant step forward, and the result of persistent, strategic engagement from the BFC.
Frankly I see no reason why the fashion industry is not equal to TV or Film .. it needs to be respected.
The framework must now be backed by real commitment, clear financial support, and the political will to understand what fashion can deliver—jobs, innovation, exports, and cultural capital.
As Chair, I’m proud that the BFC has rebuilt its commercial strength post-pandemic, allowing us—as a not-for-profit—to reinvest in our purpose and deliver more for you, our community.
Let’s be clear: there is a lot more to do
And with that, we look ahead. Under the new leadership of Laura Weir, we are entering a bold new chapter—one grounded in purpose, clarity, and ambition.
Laura brings fresh strategic vision and a fearless leadership approach which is what is needed.
Having worked with her for 11 weeks – there is a definite energy, restlessness and dedication to make an impact on behalf of this very precious and important industry.
But before I hand over, let’s pause on the real purpose of this evening: to celebrate the place of fashion in British culture, our designers and their combined impact internationally.
Fashion is more than a business —it is an expression of identity, a force of innovation, and a reflection of our time.
Of course we have to engage with technology and embrace the good and bad that A.I. will bring .
But Tonight, we welcome the Designers, Creative Directors, thinkers, doers, and visionaries that give this country its creative edge.
Those who help the UK stand out in a world that is changing fast.
Thank you for being here. Thank you for being part of this journey.
Please join me in welcoming the CEO of the British Fashion Council, Laura Weir."
Laura Weir, CEO of the British Fashion Council, speech:
"Good evening. And thank you, David.
Tonight, we are here to celebrate not the next British fashion season, but the next British fashion era.
It’s been 77 days since I stepped into the role of CEO of the British Fashion Council (Kim Jones asked me when I’m going to stop counting – I told him after this speech). I have been warmly welcomed by an exceptionally talented team at the BFC and moved by the level of support my appointment has received.
My Instagram inbox on January 6th didn’t know what had hit it, so the pressure is on – and for those of you who know me from my time working in newsrooms – high expectations are my happy place.
My intention is to build on the great foundations of the BFC to put designers at the heart, to make mentoring and business skills central to our offer and to ensure our funding models result in long term impact for the British creative economy.
Every event and showcase we host will be intentional and magnetic, and the BFC’s work internationally on behalf of our members, will mark a new era of post Brexit cultural diplomacy.
As I take on this role, I’m aware that the task ahead is Herculean – revitalising a sustainable fashion economy for our British designers in the UK and globally, is a long-term mission.
I took this job because I care about the creative and commercial success of British fashion, and I won’t rest until my tenure has had a positive impact on its global reputation.
Over the last ten weeks, I’ve had conversations with many of you, and with government representatives from Hong Kong, representatives from India, and the Middle East. What strikes me is how these superpowers are investing in culture as they build their strategic positions on the global stage.
Some are meeting me to find out more about London Fashion Week, and then their governments are investing millions of pounds in building their own – they understand that investment in culture leads to the commercial and reputational success of entire nations.
We have all of that in spades, we’ve had it for years – we have the fashion week, the creativity, the ambition – and yet we are losing talent to Paris, Milan, and Berlin – not because of a lack of creativity, but because of a lack of infrastructure to support our designers to make, create, show, and importantly, to scale in this country.
I can’t help but feel that since Brexit and Covid, we have been sleeping on the creative British asset that quite literally touches everyone.
IT IS TIME TO RESET.
It is my responsibility to ensure that the BFC reflects my commitment to impact, to getting the job done… but I cannot do it alone and my ask of you is that you join me on this journey.
I’m driven by quality of work and impact – two things. So here are a few Urgent Strategic Moves I’ve mandated in the last ten weeks:
- We will waive London Fashion Week fees for designer members showing physically in September - you will not need to pay — this is a clear statement that London is a viable platform for creativity and that, as the BFC, we don’t put anything in the way of fashion week - it is a valuable piece of national IP and our shop window for what creative Britain looks like.
- We will increase scholarship funding to support the next generation of designers to flourish.
- We have secured a three-year government funding commitment to our highly successful BFC NEWGEN programme.
- As a result of my designer listening sessions, we are doubling our investment in the London Fashion Week guest programme, to welcome more of the world’s leading press, cultural commentators and buyers to the city.
- I am delighted to say that Burberry has committed to showing in London for the foreseeable future, and despite inaccurate reports… in fact to the contrary, Jonathan Anderson has committed to showcasing in some way in London each season.
- And I will put business development skills and ‘fit for future’ mentoring for our members at the heart of our offer.
And finally, I’m proud to announce THE launch of the BFC Fashion Assembly pilot — conceived by Sarah Mower, the BFC’s Ambassador for Emerging Talent — it is a creative education programme which will take designers back to their old schools across the UK, so that young people outside of London can see themselves in this industry in the future.
Too often, fashion has been a London-centric story. We must now decentralise in so many ways - we must recognise nationwide excellence and make the UK accessible – and importantly open – to the world.
And to those of you here this evening, our generous patron supporters you should be really proud of the fact you partner with this organisation, it is our duty to invest in this industry so we can all RISE together.
Retailers – designers need you not just as stockists, but as strategic partners and patrons of the BFC. You are the enablers, and I guarantee you that in return for your support, British fashion’s unique point of view will help you thrive through a more interesting customer offer.
Designers – I’ve heard you, I’ve listened - we will reorient our funding pathways and activity to support you not just at launch, but through to sustained scale.
Cultural and commercial leaders - you’re here tonight because fashion needs you, and you need fashion. Some of the world’s most successful exhibitions are fashion exhibitions – so how can we work more closely together to ensure that in ten, twenty years time you have a canon to speak to.
Fashion is not just about shows and clothes. Fashion gives us a preview of society’s next chapter. It’s time to write a new story together.
Thank you."