Fashion District, in collaboration with Evo Learning and supported by the Mayor of London, has launched Evo Fashion – a five-month innovation programme to empower the next generation of sustainable fashion brands and fashion technology businesses by providing high-impact training, valuable industry insights and networking opportunities.

Evo Fashion has been created to tackle the underlying challenges that emerging fashion labels face, such as the difficulty to integrate sustainable business models, access to early-stage financing, and gaining traction with global players. The programme aims to provide fashion entrepreneurs with the tools and framework needed to advance their business goals, upskill ethical working standards and achieve supply chain sustainability in a highly competitive industry.

Designed to fit alongside work commitments, the fully-funded programme valued at over £2,500 to each participating brand, will include an initial two-day launch weekend, monthly leadership mentoring and peer-to-peer workshops with industry experts, as well as to open up investment and transform growth opportunities for the participating businesses.

Justine Simons OBE, Deputy Mayor for Culture and the Creative Industries said: “London is the fashion capital of the world and supporting new brands, businesses and designers through projects such as Evo Fashion will help new fashion entrepreneurs thrive. The Mayor and I are proud to support initiatives like these which work with businesses to build a better, more sustainable and prosperous London for everyone.”

Janet Coyle CBE, Managing Director of Grow London at London & Partners said: “This is a much-needed programme, particularly when the fashion industry is responsible for 8-10% of global emissions. We are consciously aware that clear and credible change is needed. By providing emerging fashion businesses with the right support and access to industry experts early on, we are helping to put environmental sustainability at the heart of their growth strategies. London & Partners teams are excited to be on this journey with them, and we look forward to the announcement of the first cohort of businesses early next year.”

Helen Lax, Director, Fashion District, said: “Evo Fashion is creating opportunities for fashion-forward businesses to evolve and innovate in London. The programme is designed to support designer labels and tech businesses to be more sustainable, more ethical and more robust. Evo Fashion will showcase this new wave of talent to instigate change in the fashion industry.”

Bianca Saunders, Menswear Designer, said: “I am delighted to work with Fashion District and Evo Fashion to select talented designers from London that can benefit from all important business support. London influences my own creativity and work and is a great place to be a fashion designer, so I am really excited to see the designers in the City that Evo Fashion will bring forward.”

Eligible participants will be selected based on four main criteria: their business profile, growth potential, positive social and environmental impact, and support of inclusivity and diversity.

Expert coaches and guest speakers include sustainability champion and luxury expert Vanessa Podmore; people coach Tom Farrand from Human Energy; award-winning circular fashion designer Phoebe English and Amanda Johnston, Creator and Consultant for Sustainable Angle.

The judging panel is made up of industry experts, Yvie Hutton, Director of Designer Relations & Membership for British Fashion Council; Bianca Saunders, Menswear Designer; Helen Lax, Director of Fashion District; Vanessa Podmore, Founder of Podmore Consulting; and Charles Armstrong, Founder and CEO of Evo Learning and The Trampery.

Applications are now open for the first programme running from March to July 2024, with entries closing on 8 January 2024. The successful cohort will be officially announced in February 2024. The second programme which will support fashion technology businesses will officially launch in Spring 2024 and run from July to December 2024.

Don’t miss the opportunity to be part of this crucial conversation. Further details on how to apply, and how your business can become part of the inaugural cohort of Evo Fashion can be found at www.evolearning.co/fashion.