Britain has voted to exit the EU, after the Leave campaign gained 52% of the vote to Remain's 48%. The reactions from nearly half the population have left many scrambling for answers - what will this mean for the economy? Will taxes rise? How will this affect the NHS? Who will be the next Prime Minister after David Cameron's shock resignation?.Questions that will need to be answered over the next few months, as we enter a new era.
But while there has been divided opinion about whether Britain should exit the EU or not, during the campaign pro-Remain designers from Vivienne Westwood to J.W.Anderson have been strong in their views that a Leave outcome would be bad for the UK fashion industry (which has contributed an estimated £26 billion to the UK economy in 2014, according to The Business of Fashion.) Sibling designers even showed pro-Remain T-shirts at their latest LCM show.
90 per cent of UK designer businesses stated their preference to remain in the European Union in a recent survey conducted by the British Fashion Council - concluding that to leave the EU would weaken the pound, end free trade (posing a serious effect to growth and negatively impact consumer confidence), as well as impacting top fashion institutions such as the Royal College of Art and UAL, who would miss out on funding and foreign talent.
'Undergraduates from Europe make up a considerable intake to all our fashion pathways,' said Willie Walters, Central Saint Martin's fashion course director.
Here are the Brexit reactions from the fashion industry so far on social media…
Vivienne Westwood
Sibling London
Karl Lagerfeld
Speaking at Dior Homme’s SS17 show, the German designer said: "Look who voted, it was the people from deep in the countryside, the big cities didn’t want it at all," Dazedreports. Adding: "I don’t think it is a good idea.They may have another vote...The analysis of the vote shows that it is a bad decision."
Caroline Rush, CEO British Fashion Council
Alexa Chung
Suki Waterhouse
**READ MORE: Brexit: Britain Votes To Leave The European Union **
**READ MORE: Prime Minister David Cameron Announces Resignation **