Bath Fashion Festival

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BSU supports inaugural Bath Fashion Festival

This weekend, Bath is set to transform into the epicentre of fashion innovation as Bath Fashion Festival rolls out the red carpet for its inaugural event.  

With deep roots in fashion and sustainability, BSU is sponsoring the festival alongside the National Centre for Fashion and Sustainability, deepening the University’s connection to local and international fashion and the journey towards a more sustainable industry.  

The two-day event will see over 2,000 guests in attendance as organisers combine Bath’s rich history and stunning Georgian architecture with contemporary fashion to bring a packed lineup of local and international highlights, including a catwalk fashion show, pop up shops, interactive experiences, and expert panel talks. 

Hosted at the iconic Holburne Museum, the festival will bring together an eclectic mix of celebrated designers, influencers, and fashion enthusiasts, including Scamp and Dude; iconic model Erin O’Connor, former Vogue Fashion Editor Bay Garnett; Bath-born Vogue writer and Head of the British Fashion Council’s New Gen team Sarah Mower MBE; hairdresser to high-profile clients  – from Princess Diana to Kate Moss – Sam McKnight MBE; bestselling author Ruth Crilly, Bath Spa University Honorary Doctorate Manolo Blahnik; Somerset local designer Alice Temperley MBE; and ethical jewellery brand Sky Diamond. 

With sustainability at its core, Bath Fashion Festival has committed to promoting sustainable fashion practices throughout the event. Attendees can immerse themselves in animated discussions around sustainability and even visit an education area focused on sustainable fashion. 

Jade Parfitt, founder of the Bath Fashion Festival, expressed her excitement about the event:  

"Having worked in the fashion industry for over 25 years, I am thrilled to bring this incredible celebration of fashion to Bath. The city’s unique charm and history make it the perfect location for an event that I hope will become a staple in the fashion calendar for years to come.” 

During the festival, The National Centre for Fashion and Sustainability (NCFS) will host a panel of leaders expertly placed to shed light on how they are supporting the growth of a sustainable fashion sector. 

Professor of Fashion and Sustainability, Tamara Cincik discussed the panel: 

“I am so excited to see Bath placed firmly on the fashion map. Bath’s historic roots are embedded in the DNA of UK fashion industry ,when the best dressed in society would come to the city to take the waters and promenade in their finery in this stunning city. Kudos to Jade for creating this celebration of Bath, of fashion, and of UK talent.” 

The National Centre for Fashion and Sustainability is a space where leading thinkers, learners, businesses, and communities connect and drive the fashion and textile industry toward new, regenerative practices.  

Led by BSU, in partnership with Bath and North East Somerset Council and Fashion Museum Bath, NCFS aims to bring together a heritage legacy, with new, regenerative ways to grow our internationally-acclaimed fashion and textile industry. 

Visitors can attend the panel at 2:30 pm on Sunday 22 September to find out how the NCFS is creating greater impact through a multi-disciplinary, interconnected approach.

The panel lineup: 

• Sharanjit Leyl, Chancellor of Bath Spa University and International Broadcaster (Chair) 
• Andy Salmon, Pro-Vice Chancellor for the Centre for Innovation and Knowledge Exchange, Bath Spa University 
• Sophie McKinley, Re-Fashioning Bath Project Lead, Fashion Museum Bath, BANES 
• Cleo Newcombe-Jones, Regeneration Manager, BANES 
• Gabrielle Shiner-Hill, MyWorld Fellow, Bath Spa University & Fashion Museum Bath 
• Tamara Cincik, Professor of Fashion & Sustainability and CEO Fashion Roundtable