Scottish fashion futures: reflecting on Scotland’s fashion identity, influence and impact.

National fashion systems are recognised as increasingly important and will play a valuable role in helping the fashion industry transition towards a more sustainable future. These national systems make an important contribution to the economy and provide opportunities for local communities. Fashion in and of itself is an important symbol of national identity and culture and the people working within the industry (designing, producing, communicating, managing, etc) are also recognised as signifiers who bring about new ideas and change. Scotland has a vast iconography and is recognised globally for its rich heritage in fashion and textiles, which spans centuries. Current literature surrounding Scottish fashion tends to focus on traditional textiles in terms of how they have evolved throughout history. The Scottish textile industry remains profitable, and Scotland has a strong reputation for producing high quality, artisan goods. Textile mills in Scotland have a long history of supplying to global luxury brands and some of these manufacturers have evolved into brands in their own right, synonymous with high quality and sustainability. Recent research in the fields of national identity, Scottish identity and Scottish fashion suggests that it is valuable to revisit, reflect upon and update existing narratives. Leading Scottish identity scholars propose that Scotland might be a victim of its own rich heritage, which makes it difficult for a more modern identity to be established. The current research explores Scottish fashion openly in a series of workshop discussions with Scottish fashion industry academics and practitioners. These revealed a difficulty in defining contemporary Scottish fashion as well as a tension between how Scottish fashion is perceived within and outside of Scotland. Recommendations are made around the strengthening of "Made in Scotland" as an initiative, better support for graduates and industry skills shortages, and an accessible and inclusive information sharing platform.