FASHION RETAIL ACADEMY news and archive

Fashion Retail Academy marks 20th anniversary at House of Lords

LONDON, Oct 2, 2025 — The Fashion Retail Academy (FRA) marked its 20th anniversary on Oct. 1 with an event at the House of Lords hosted by Lord Rose, Chair of EG Group and former CEO of Marks & Spencer. Founded in 2005 through a partnership between government and retailers including Marks & Spencer, Experian, Arcadia, F&F and Next, the FRA...

Fashion

Fashion Retail Academy celebrates 20th anniversary with ambassador appointments

The Fashion Retail Academy (FRA) has announced the appointment of five new ambassadors as it celebrates its 20th anniversary. The appointments aim to strengthen the academy’s industry links and highlight its role in preparing students for careers in fashion and retail. The new ambassadors include Ian McGarrigle, founder and chairman of the World...

BusinessPress Release

New Home Beckons for Fashion Retail Academy

The Fashion Retail Academy (the FRA), the UK’s leading training provider for the fashion and retail industries, is to relocate to a new purpose-designed campus at the landmark Grade II listed Electra House on Moorgate, in September 2024. The FRA has been based at Gresse Street, in the heart of London’s prime retail district, since its founding...

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Business

Fashion Retail Academy expands to Scotland

London-based Fashion Retail Academy is expanding its reach to Scotland for the first time through Fuse, an exclusive partnership with St James Quarter and Edinburgh College to help boost the country’s retail industry. Fuse, which is currently recruiting more than 450 retail jobs within St James Quarter, is bringing Fashion Retail Academy’s...

Fashion

UK shoppers believe influencers are behind rise in fast fashion

More than half of UK shoppers believe that social media influencers are behind the rise in fast fashion, according to new research released by Fashion Retail Academy. The survey of 2,000 people carried out by OnePoll on behalf of the Fashion Retail Academy, found that 54 percent of people believe influencers have at least partly caused a rise in...

Fashion

Young adults ‘thriftiest’ generation

Britain’s youngest adult demographic, aged 18-24, has been crowned the thriftiest age group when it comes to getting rid of unwanted clothing, shoes and accessories, according to research by the Fashion Retail Academy. A new study has revealed that those aged 18-24 are the most active at selling their unwanted garments with 22.8 percent selling...

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Retail

Menswear ‘boom’ driven by high street experience

Men are spending more on the high street, as more than a third (34.6 percent) of men believe that the male shopping experience has improved over the last decade, according to new research from the Fashion Retail Academy. Better clothing designs for men, more styling options and an improved shopping experience are all helping to drive men’s...

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Fashion

UK shoppers shun cheaper clothes for longer-lasting items

UK consumers are shifting their attention away from fast fashion, and towards longer-lasting items, according to a new report by the Fashion Retail Academy. The report revealed that consumers are now 13 percent more likely to choose more expensive, longer-lasting clothes over cheaper items with a shorter lifespan, with 34 percent opting for...

Fashion

Fashion Retail Academy rated ‘outstanding’ by Ofsted

Independent employer-led college, Fashion Retail Academy has been officially recognised as ‘outstanding’ by Ofsted. The inspection, which took place at the end of September 2016, praised the Fashion Retail Academy on its management, industry partnerships, quality of teaching, the general learning facilities, as well as giving “excellent" ongoing...

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Retail

Fashion industry in need of technical retail roles

In order for UK fashion to keep up with the “digital revolution transforming the industry” they will need to create 50-60,000 technical and analytical fashion retail roles in the next five year, according to a recent report from the Fashion Retail Academy and OC&C Strategy Consultants. The ‘Fast Forwarding Fashion: Skills For The Future’ report...

Fashion

Sir Philip Green sets up seed fund for FRA students

Owner of Arcadia, Sir Philip Green, announced at the annual Fashion Retail Academy Awards that he is setting up a 100,000 pound seed fund to assist FRA students set up their own businesses. The announcement was made as the FRA celebrated its 10th anniversary, a retail organisation supported not only by Green and Arcadia, but also by Marks and...

Fashion

Teacher knows best

Any retail fashion students attending entrepreneur Philip Green's Fashion Retail Academy can expect a lesson or two from the master himself, as well as M&S boss Stuart Rose. The brand new Academy is opening in London in September, and the first 20 students have been offered places. Meanwhile the remaining 40 places will probably be filled during...