Newcastle’s Eldon Square mall has hosted an inaugural ‘Future of Fashion’ event in conjunction with the British Fashion Council (BFC), and curated by Sunderland Software City, to help grow the digital and technology sector in the North East of England.

The event “highlighted the role of innovation and technology in shaping the fashion industry”. It took over a part of the centre transforming it into a “dynamic hub of creative, technological and immersive experiences and offered visitors a glimpse into fashion’s digital future through three innovative zones”.

It featured holographic displays, immersive VR catwalks and interactive design experiences powered by gaming platforms. 

Bolstered by workshops held in advance for students and creative professionals, the event was “one example of how the [BFC] and Eldon Square are set to work together to supercharge the power of fashion in Newcastle”. 

Building on this momentum, Eldon Square is also championing the future of fashion by supporting emerging talent, partnering with Newcastle College, creating a 24-metre mural on Blackett Street that showcases the creativity of students across fashion and design courses, and offering them a public platform to share their work. 

Helen Cowie, centre director at Eldon Square said: “The event has been an exciting opportunity to bring our vision of championing the emerging talent of tomorrow to life. At Eldon Square, we are passionate about supporting the next generation, whether that’s through landmark events such as this or through our ongoing collaborations with Newcastle College.”

Jenna Ingoe, Innovation manager at Sunderland Software City, added: “The event was a fantastic opportunity to demonstrate the transformative role digital technologies are already playing in the fashion and retail sectors, and to highlight how they are shaping the future of fashion.”

This autumn, Eldon Square said, through its British Fashion Council patronage, it aims to strengthen its role as a driver of retail and fashion innovation in the North East even further.

“The patronage places Eldon Square alongside some of the most influential names in British fashion, providing a platform to showcase the North East’s creative potential on a national stage. By aligning with the BFC, Eldon Square is not only elevating its profile within the industry but also opening new opportunities for brands, designers and retailers to engage with emerging trends in the industry”.