Fashion is one of the United Kingdom’s most vibrant industries catering to both high street and high-end markets. Renowned for its creativity, the UK fashion scene has a long, proud and diverse history. Many of the world’s key fashion trends, past and present, stem from the UK.
Today, the UK is home to leading designers of all types of menswear, women’s wear, children’s wear and babywear, who export their products worldwide. It is also a central location in the manufacture of clothing and high-quality fabrics, as well as a global hub for fashion retailing.
The British Embassy, in association with SM, recently launched British Fashion Month at SM Aura Premier. It is part of “This is GREAT Britain,” a five-month-long celebration of the best of British business and culture.
The event showcased seven British fashion brands: Marks & Spencer, Lee Cooper, River Island, Warehouse, Clarks, Speedo and T.M. Lewin.
“The UK has long been a playground for designers to unleash their imagination, inspiring others with their creations and defining iconic periods. From mod to punk, from High Street to high fashion, from office to everyday casual wear, British fashion has been adopted and adapted throughout the world,” said British Ambassador to the Philippines Asif Ahmad.
“Shopping is a national passion in the Philippines and I am happy to see British brands doing well here. Wherever I go in the Philippines I see people wearing clothes that are inspired by British fashion… Union Jack flags on T-shirts, jeans, fascinators for a special event or miniskirts that recall the influence of Carnaby Street in London,” he added.
British Fashion Month unveiled British creativity and design trends, which have a global following, on display in the SM Malls.
Ahmad, along with Australian Ambassador William Tweddell and his wife Chris, graced the event with the British Embassy’s Charge d’Affaires Trevor Lewis, First Secretary Steph Lysaght, Second Secretary Colin Glen, and The United Kingdom Trade and Investment (UKTI) director Iain Mansfield.
SM vice president for marketing and communications group Millie Dizon and SM Aura Premier mall manager Carlos Vilchez welcomed them.
The showcase of British fashion brands will also tour the SM Premier Malls after the SM Aura run.
The following venues are the SM Mall of Asia, SM Megamall and SM City North Edsa.
The best part is that shoppers can avail of discounts, gifts with purchase, and fun promotions from participating brands during the event. Simultaneously, the British Embassy Manila will run an online contest that will give the public a chance to win prizes from participating brands.
“This is GREAT Britain” is co-presented by SM and Fox International Channels. Sponsors are Surface Technology International, Lee Cooper, GSK, Jaguar/Land Rover, Pru Life UK, Marks & Spencer and Fil-Anglo. Event sponsor for British Fashion Month is The Body Shop.
The British Fashion Month launch is one of several cultural events lined up at SM Aura Premier.