The Be Well Collective London Fashion Week
Wellbeing Summit 2020

On February 4th 2020, the Be Well Collective hosted their third annual pre-London fashion week wellbeing summit at the Corinthia hotel, London. The day gathered 300 models, industry creatives, brands and members of the British Fashion Council to unite and address physical and mental health within the fashion industry. 
 

Bringing a positive and educational day of talks and interactive workshops, the panel discussion was kicked off with the British Fashion Council Chief Executive, Caroline Rush

"I've met lots of individuals within the industry who want to be involved with programmes talking about mental health, either because they have had a troubling time themselves or they've seen a friend that's been really challenged and that might have had drastic consequences", she said, "I think we'll be more open than we have been in the past about [mental health]." 

Caroline Rush acknowledged the high pressure working environment that the fashion industry could hinder efforts to protect its workers. 

 "One of the biggest challenges of engaging the fashion community is just the pace that everybody works at" she said, "and finding the time to actually talk about this, [for leaders] to create the culture that makes time to engage in those conversations."

 Rush acknowledged the need of the Be Well Collectives not-for profit organisation, whereby the model’s health inquiry was addressed and how the Be Well are now delivering many of the recommendations which followed the report over 13 years ago.

Rose Percy, the head of production for Burberry followed, acknowledged the need for the Be Well to work alongside Burberry to help ‘bridge the gap’ in a multifaceted industry towards health. 
 
"I think we need to create a culture to create time for their team and these conversations." Karen Dimond, owner of Models 1 spoke about the issues which models and agents face. 
 
“Misinformation about how to achieve a [model physique]" and said working with the Be Well Collective has been invaluable in giving models a safe space to talk about their physical and mental health away from their agents - "[models] need to deal with [mental and physical health problems] early, before it becomes an extreme problem." 

A number of health experts followed these conversations and joined Sarah Ann Macklin our founder on stage, on how to deal with mental and physical overload.

Professor of genetic epidemiology Tim Spector, debunked diet myths, Kimberley Wilson charted psychologist discussed the damaging effects of the ‘comparison theory’, whilst founder of Bodhimaya Cornelius O’Shaughnessy led the audience in a guided meditation session. Adrienne Herbert discussed the importance of movement and the talks were closed with a series of curated sounds tracks to lower your heart rate and bring a sense of calmness by electronic producer and sleep science coach Tom Middleton.

The day was supplied with nutritious food from buckwheat pancakes, fruit skewers and quail eggs served with spinach, to a lunch feast which resembled an English vegetable garden. 
 

After lunch an interactive workshop was hosted by Breathpod, teaching guests the power of harnessing the breath, a technique used to help combat issues including anxiety, stress, insomnia etc. issues that are all prevalent within the fashion industry. 

“We breathe on average 20,000 times a day yet most of us are unaware of its incredible ability to transform the way we feel, act and operate - physically, mentally and emotionally.”  Stuart Sandeman, Breathpod Founder. 

We want to say a massive thank you to our incredible sponsors, who without their support the day would not have been possible, MEDA, Viridian, Workshop Gymnasium, BFMA and MSFF. 

Guests were served an array of CBD infused cocktails artfully created by MEDA as well as expert nutrition advice and high quality nutritional supplements provided to guests by the Viridian Nutrition team. 

Guests left on a high with goody bags full to the brim with some of the Be Well's favourite products including class passes to London's top boutique gyms, nutritious snacks to enjoy between shows and products to help calm, relax and restore sleep over the busiest month in the fashion calendar.

To read the full event coverage, head over to our official media partner the  Evening Standard.

For further knowledge from the Be Well, founder Sarah Ann Macklin recently wrote for the Business of Fashion tips on How to Stay Healthy this Fashion Month.