Eldon Square champions fashion innovation in the North East

• Future of Fashion event turns Eldon Square into a hub of innovation
• Newcastle College partnership spotlights student creativity
• BFC patronage strengthens Eldon Square’s fashion leadership

This weekend Eldon Square hosted its inaugural Future of Fashion event, curated by Sunderland Software City, an organisation that helps grow the digital and technology sector in the North East of England.

The spectacular event highlighted the role of innovation and technology in shaping the fashion industry. Eldon Square was transformed into a dynamic hub of creative, technological and immersive experiences and offered visitors a glimpse into fashion’s digital future through three innovative zones across the centre.

Visitors saw how fashion and technology intersect through holographic displays, immersive VR catwalks and interactive design experiences powered by gaming platforms – all demonstrating how digital innovation is transforming the way fashion is created and experienced. Bolstered by workshops held in advance for students and creative professionals, the event is one example of how the British Fashion Council 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. Its partnership with Newcastle College has already delivered a striking 24-metre mural on Blackett Street, showcasing the creativity of students across fashion and design courses, and offering them a public platform to share their work. Alongside this, Eldon Square are proud to routinely offer placements for students from Newcastle University, ensuring the next generation are empowered to thrive in the rapidly evolving world of fashion and retail.

Helen Cowie, Centre Director at Eldon Square said: “Partnering with Sunderland Software City on the innovative Future of Fashion 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, which provide young people with the platform, confidence and experience they need to thrive in fashion and retail.”

Jenna Ingoe, Innovation Manager at Sunderland Software City said: “Sunderland Software City was thrilled to collaborate with Eldon Square to spotlight the exciting intersection of technology and fashion, and to celebrate the incredible innovation taking place across our region. 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 is also proud to announce its British Fashion Council patronage strengthening its role as a driver of retail and fashion innovation in the North East even further. The partnership underlines a shared commitment to championing the region’s growing fashion sector and comes at a time when the city is experiencing exciting growth and renewed vibrancy.

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 British Fashion Council, 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.