Attire Accessories - May/Jun 2019 (Issue 76)

106 K E E P CA LM AND CAR RY ON Louise Prance looks at Brexit and how the industry is handling the uncertain times At the time of writing, Brexit is reaching fever pitch. Theresa May is seeking yet another extension to article 50, and the government’s handling of the situation can only be described as farcical. Every MP, journalist and news outlet is predicting the ramifications of the various Brexit outcomes, with scaremongering reaching an all-time high. No deal? The world will end. May’s Brexit deal? The world will end. Second referendum? The world will end. You get the gist. What is clear, is that we are no clearer than we were two years ago when Article 50 was triggered as to what happens next. In the past two years, there have undoubtedly been some early casualties of the decision to leave the EU. Larger multinationals have started to up sticks and move headquarters to various European countries, and job redundancies have been reported. But what does it mean for the smaller independents? It’s undeniable that the results of us leaving the single market are nerve-racking, with the as-yet unknown trade agreements undoubtedly affecting smaller businesses that import from other countries. As are the murky waters regarding the rewriting of design protection laws. But what is the general industry consensus? From those that I have spoken to, it seems it’s time to keep calm and carry on. By the time this magazine has gone to print, the situation will have either reached a conclusion of sorts or we will have a further extension. Either way, it feels like there is the need for a bit of blind faith – to trust in your product and the robustness of our wonderful industry. British design talent is at its peak, something that I have witnessed from the show circuit this year, and as ever, spirits were high, if nervous, about the outcome of Brexit. Indeed, I have witnessed a positive “what will be, will be” attitude among the majority of companies over the past two years, with many ready to tackle the hurdles head on. And with the online petition to stop Brexit almost hitting six million signatures before it was debated in parliament, there could be a last-minute twist after all. If you have any industry issue you’d like discussed, drop Louise an email at louisep@attireaccessories.com .