It has been announced the HRH Princess Anne will make a series of visits across the country to promote the “Let’s Make It Here” initiative of the UK Fashion and Textile Association of which she is the president. The visits seek to recognise the skills and talents within the textile, fashion and jewellery manufacturing sector throughout the United Kingdom. The Princess Royal will also see examples of how the companies are seeking to spread the knowledge via apprentices so that these vital skills will not die out.
Some of the companies Princess Anne is due to visit are well established; West Yorkshire textiles company Joshua Ellis has been specialising in cashmere for the last two hundred and fifty years. Johnstons of Elgin follow closely behind and two hundred and twenty years of kilt manufacture. They are the largest fashion and textile employer in the country and have the scheme to pass on the traditional skills of kilt manufacture to apprentices at their training centre in Hawick.
At the other end of the scale is Alex Monroe; Alex is a London-based has been trading for thirty years in designer jewellery. “Britain is home to world class manufacturers, producing everything from advanced materials to traditional fabrics used by brands globally,” commented Adam Mansell, CEO of UKFT.
“UKFT is delighted that our President has kindly agreed to this series of visits, in recognition of the skills, talent and heritage throughout the UK.” In addition to the initiative, UKFT has also launched a database to enable designers and brands to source skills within the country at all stages of production and some ancillary skills.
Princess Anne has been President of the UK Fashion and Textile Association for the nearly thirty years and is known to be a keen supporter fashion and textile products made in the United Kingdom. Over the time she has been president, she has visited around one hundred factories throughout the United Kingdom. Her knowledge has also passed to her daughter Zara Tindall who has several designer clothing and jewellery ranges.