INSIGHTS

Valentine’s Day has cemented itself as a key event in the commercial calendar.  The U.K. is expected to spend around £2.1 billion to celebrate February 14th 1 , with a YouGov poll reporting that 5% of these expenses go towards clothing gifts 2 . This spending boom around Valentine’s Day is like a soulmate for fast fashion. The Public Interest Research Group (PIRG) describes how ‘fast’ business models have exploited the wholesome origins of Valentine’s Day “by selling us a bun

Clothing poverty persists in the UK despite widespread surplus. This article examines how access infrastructure can exclude people with unseen disabilities. ________________________________________________________________________________ Clothing poverty as an access problem, not a supply issue When clothing poverty is discussed publicly, it is often framed as a problem of material availability: not enough coats, shoes or uniforms¹. Evidence from poverty and disability resear

Children in the UK are being pushed to the side lines of sport not because they lack talent or interest, but because they lack sportswear.

At one end of the market, households buy discounted fashion at unprecedented scale; at the other, millions cannot afford the essential clothing required for daily life. 

As 2025 draws to a close, we turn our attention to 2026, and what clothing poverty may look like in the new year.

2025 saw many developments around the issue of clothing poverty. While it is difficult to gauge the effect of these developments, given that their implementation is in its infancy, it is vital to consider how steps are being taken to address the material needs of those experiencing clothing poverty.   January The London Council of Tower Hamlets offers a universal school uniform payment, the first scheme of its kind. Households with an income of less than £50,350 will receive