Bring it Back

At the end of London Fashion Week there was a photo call of Caroline Rush British Fashion Council Cheif Executive, Mary Katrantzou and Roksanda Ilincic, Natalie Massanet, head of Net-A-Porter, Anay Hindmarch plus the Vodafone Brand director all alongside Samantha Cameron, who is now calling upon home-grown designers to manufacture clothes in Britain. This should be great news but it isn't against the backdrop of the fact the most lauded show is always Burberry and we all know how Burberry decided to decimate the last of its manufacturing base in Britain to move abroad all in the name of profits before the bank crisis hit!

I have long waged a lone war against Burberry, if you enter Burberry in to my search box you will find mention after mention of why I don't shop there, take clients there or recommend them in any way after the closure of their Treorchy factory because it wasn't 'commerically viable' to keep it open. Please! This happened at a time when Burberry was boasting of 19% increase in sales with revenues of £135 million that year.

 

How are we going to bring back those lost years of expertise or people's life's ruined. You've only got to watch Stella to know the poverty levels and lack of job opportunities in the South Wales Valleys.

May be one day fashion will truly wake up to its hands in social responsibility that isn't about sham hollow words. Burberry are not alone, before them M&S managed to wipe out business after business whom they had lock in to contracts only to suddenly announce they were moving their manufacturing to Morocco and elsewhere. Until we have a proper shaming of all past practices and a true commitment to workers then there is nothing 'stunning' about calling upon anyone to manufacture clothes in the UK

Maxi Midi Mini

I know the magazines and high street are awash with print and more specifically Mary Katrantzou's prints but hey you know what we still love a bit of stripe action regardless. If there has been one season when stripes didn't really feature on the catwalk then this is it, right now. However there is nothing easier to wear, throw on and remains a timeless staple of your wardrobe than a stripy Breton top in its many manifestations. Who knew that Coco Chanel would still be one of the best fashion references nearly 100 years later. Just one simple moment of risk and creativity, continually loved by many...but not all. There are those who fail to embrace stripes for many reasons but lets not be doubters here.

The stripy top is perfect for the spring months layered or on its own. I'm not going to be a purist here and only count true Breton styles, lets embrace all stripy tops under the Breton category umbrella.

Splendid Striped cotton-jersey top £99 Net-A-Porter

Striped Breton £38 Kew 159

Striped top £12.99 H&M