Alliances | DCMS
Because of its unique positioning within the high-end sector, the CFE is regularly consulted by governmental offices and trade 
associations for advice and comment on the sector.
The CFE has a close relationship with the Department of Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) forged in 2008 when it was commissioned to do a feasibility study to assess the production and sampling capacity available for UK designers, whether there was a market failure, and what intervention was needed, if any. The Study concluded that new designers and even more established designer businesses are disadvantaged because their volumes are low. This leaves them no room to negotiate with manufacturers on quality, price or delivery timings, and undermines their credibility with customers as they are unable to fulfil their order-books and guarantee on-time delivery. The high-end designer fashion sector is also problematic from the perspective of UK manufacturers. Although some designers place small orders with UK manufacturers, as order sizes grow, production is sourced overseas, leaving little opportunity for manufacturing businesses to experience the economic benefits that come with larger order sizes.
The findings of the Feasibility Study are inforning some of the backdrop for the work of the recently formed Alliance consortium, between the CFE, BFC, London MAS, UKFT and Skillset, working together to deliver a strategy to support the UK’s high-end designer and manufacturing sectors.
