Matty Bovan Leads Virtual Showcase 2022 Lineup

Matty Bovan, Phoebe English, Joshua Kane and Patrick McDowell are among the speakers at Future Fashion Factory’s Virtual Showcase on 15 June 2022.

Building on the success of last year’s event, the Virtual Showcase will combine panel discussions and in-depth conversations to explore the future of the fashion industry and highlight innovative projects driving change in the sector.

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Fresh from his latest London Fashion Week showcase, Matty Bovan will talk about his experience collaborating with Leeds mill AW Hainsworth & Sons.

The all-Yorkshire collaboration saw Matty creating beautiful bespoke jacquard fabrics for his collection, which earned both the International Woolmark Prize and the Karl Lagerfeld Prize for Innovation – making use of a short-run bespoke service that Hainsworth originally trialled in a Future Fashion Factory project.

We are also delighted to welcome Patrick McDowell, whose sustainability-focused practice saw him nominated by Anna Wintour for the Stella McCartney Today for Tomorrow Award in 2019.

Matty Bovan profile picture
Matty Bovan

Working with reclaimed fabrics, hosting the first London Fashion Week Swap Shop, and even creating new collections digitally, Patrick will share his insights in ‘Futureproofing Fashion’, a panel discussion exploring the skills needed across the fashion industry to ensure the future of UK design and manufacturing.

Image of Phoebe English
Phoebe English Image: © Asia Werbel

In another in-depth conversation, Phoebe English will discuss the studio’s approach to local supply networks and accessing UK raw materials and fibres as part of her brand’s mission to move towards ‘less extractive practices’.

In November, Phoebe led one of Future Fashion Factory’s highest-attended events when she spoke about ‘What Sustainability Means To Me’: a talk which drew on examples from her acclaimed installation at the British Library in September 2021.

And after participating in two panels at last year’s event, bespoke tailor Joshua Kane will be back to share how he takes traditional tailoring into new digital worlds through his upcoming videogame, NFTs and more.

Throughout the day panels will cover topics from sustainability challenges to tools for agile manufacturing in the UK by way of digital fashion, the fashion policy landscape and more. Further details will be released in the coming weeks.

Taking place over the online event platform Hopin, the Virtual Showcase will also incorporate a digital exhibition hall, where companies taking part in Future Fashion Factory-funded projects will highlight the innovations taking place across our community.

“Future Fashion Factory has gone from strength to strength in the past year and we can’t wait to share how our network is growing and evolving,” says Suzy Shepherd, Co-Director. “We also know there is a lot to talk about as businesses navigate a ‘new normal’ and make urgent strides towards viable circular economies.

“We’re delighted that so many leading designers and experts are driving the conversation with us.”

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