The UK Fashion and Textiles industry contributed almost £20 billion to the UK economy in 2020 and remains a major UK employer with 500,000 jobs supported across design, manufacturing and retail. The covid-19 pandemic and post Brexit landscape exposed the UK industries reliance on long, global supply chains as well as restricting access to skilled workers. In parallel to these events the sector faces further challenges to address sustainability and circular economy agendas and transition to net zero by 2050. The UK sector is dominated by fashion design and manufacture Micro and SME businesses, though more economically vulnerable than larger businesses, they have demonstrated the ability to be more agile in response to external factors causing supply chain disruptions (such as Brexit and Covid), as well as adapt to more sustainable practices. However, accessing UK supply chain networks, at an appropriate scale and quality to support the growth of these businesses is an increasing challenge. This paper outlines findings from qualitative research evaluating the benefits to UK based micro and SME fashion businesses from being co-located within regional micro-clusters. It looks at the regional activities being undertaken by fashion firms working within micro-clusters and the challenges they face in the post Brexit & Covid landscape, as well as specific sustainability challenges. It finds that regional fashion micro-clusters act as localised networks developing and providing access to skills and services for businesses based within them. Recommendations for programme and policy initiatives to support the development of cluster & cross cluster communities to enable wider access to these developing UK supply chain networks are suggested. These include, investment in fashion micro-clusters as innovation hubs as well as supporting the expansion of businesses operating within them into New Markets.

ISBN: 978-1-913095-51-2