UK Fashion Export Awards

The UK Fashion Export Awards have once again demonstrated the strength of the UK fashion market, with the 10 winners driving healthy sales growth of British clothing and accessories overseas.

Among the ten winners receiving awards from HRH The Princess Royal in London were Orla Kiely, one of London's leading designers, and high-street retailer French Connection.

The awards mark success and support performance in the fashion apparel export sector, which is worth GBP3bn annually. This year's winners sold GBP93.3m of goods abroad between them in 2003, up by 16.48 per cent from 2002. This marks a strong recovery from 2001, when winners' sales abroad grew by only 0.22 per cent. Export sales represent 12 to 90 per cent of the total sales of each winning business.

Paul Alger, executive director, UK Fashion Exports, said: "These figures put pay to critics who think that UK fashion doesn't cut it in the international arena. "Quirky and classic British fashions have unique appeal to consumers throughout the world and sell well thanks to good quality and great design. Many of the winners produce their goods in the UK, supporting our home-grown skills base and British clothing manufacturers."

Designer of the Year is Dublin-born Orla Kiely, for whom exports make up 70 per cent of total sales. Her collection of clothing and accessories, noted for its trademark prints, bold use of colour and clean designs, is sold in 25 countries. High-street fashion retailer French Connection scoops the Gold Award, which is sponsored by The Royal Bank of Scotland, in recognition of its consistent export performance over the last three years. French Connection has more than 1,500 outlets worldwide in 25 countries, and exports account for 25per cent of its sales. David Whitlock, managing director of sponsor The Royal Bank of Scotland, said: "We are delighted to sponsor the awards again this year and recognise the efforts of the finalists as they seek new opportunities and markets for their products.

"Overseas markets are an important aspect of the fashion industry, and with such developments as the recent enlargement of the EU, it will be interesting to see how these new opportunities develop."

The strongest sales growth is shown by Net-a-Porter, winner of the E-tailer Award. It has doubled sales each year since its launch in June 2000 and has maintained more than 50per cent of its sales outside its UK base.