Fashion industry figures urge Burnham to back UK-made NHS and military uniforms

A group of more than 1,200 people from across the fashion industry, including the broadcaster and adventurer Ben Fogle, have signed a letter urging the government to commit to manufacturing uniforms for the NHS and Ministry of Defence within the UK, according to The Guardian.

The letter, organised by the thinktank Fashion Roundtable, was due to be hand delivered to Downing Street on Wednesday afternoon, according to the report. It calls on Andy Burnham to ensure that clothing worn by British defence forces and NHS staff is produced domestically rather than sourced overseas.

The initiative comes as London fashion week approaches, with organisers of the letter turning attention away from the catwalk towards what they describe as more everyday, functional clothing. Signatories argue that committing public procurement of uniforms to UK-based manufacturers would help preserve domestic textile and garment production firms, the report said.

The Guardian did not detail the specific scale of current overseas sourcing for NHS or MoD uniforms, nor the government's response to the letter at the time of publication. Andy Burnham's office has not yet issued a public statement addressing the request, according to the available reporting.

Fashion Roundtable, the organisation behind the campaign, has previously advocated for policies supporting British textile manufacturing. The letter's supporters include figures from across the fashion industry alongside broader public signatories such as Fogle, the report noted.