Laura Weir, CEO of the British Fashion Council, has unveiled her 2030 strategy focused on access, creativity, and growth for the UK fashion industry. The plan emphasizes clearer communication of the BFC's purpose and embraces London's role as a talent incubator. Weir outlined new initiatives and reviews of programs like London Fashion Week in an interview.
Laura Weir took over as chief executive of the British Fashion Council in April 2025, bringing experience from journalism at ES Magazine and as executive creative director at Selfridges. Almost a year into her role, she launched the BFC 2030 strategy on Tuesday, addressing shifts in wholesale markets due to Covid, Brexit, and tariffs. Weir stressed the need for greater clarity on the organization's purpose and activities to better serve the industry. “We need to tell the BFC story better,” she said. The strategy rebrands initiatives as 'Prizes and Programmes,' expanding mentoring to include business resilience for both emerging designers and established businesses. Weir highlighted support for diverse career paths, from small teams to large companies, and not just creative directors. New efforts include piloting Fashion Assembly in Hull and Leicester to inspire schoolchildren about fashion careers, a mini MBA course, UK Fashion House for affordable studios via patron partnerships, and BFC International for global opportunities like trunk shows and retailer directories. Weir embraces London's reputation as a talent incubator, viewing designers' moves to Paris or Milan—such as Jonathan Anderson and Grace Wales Bonner—as a strength that feeds the global ecosystem. She aims to expand brand-partnered scholarships with supporters like Chanel and Dior. For London Fashion Week, September remains strong, but February may evolve into a flexible cultural showcase, potentially featuring international collaborations. The Fashion Awards will position as “the world’s biggest fashion fundraiser,” with new partnerships and categories like costume design.
