Beyond the Runway Brings Fashion Designers and Creative Professionals Together to Explore Income Generation
Our first Beyond the Runway: Income Generation for Fashion Designers panel event was a great success, bringing together fashion designers, entrepreneurs, students and creative professionals for an evening of practical discussion, shared experiences and networking at Zone29, University of Westminster, on 3 November 2026.
After several years of creating platforms and opportunities for designers and creatives to showcase their talent through initiatives such as Cultural Style Week, we wanted to take the conversation further. Beyond the Runway gave us the opportunity to explore what happens after the showcase, focusing on income generation, routes to market and the realities of building a sustainable creative business.
The discussion brought together a fantastic panel moderated by Michael Burgess, Founder of Creative Resilience International, alongside Alison Lewy MBE (Fashion Angel), Jatin Patel (Kalikas Armour), Rae Sims / Jones (University of Westminster), Mahfuza Begum (BY BDSHA) and Candy Ellie Graham (Cultural Fashion & Arts CIC).
The evening also provided valuable networking opportunities, with attendees connecting with speakers and one another, exchanging ideas and exploring potential opportunities beyond the panel discussion.
We were also delighted to welcome back Sarah (Dio Donita), a Westminster alumna who participated in Couture Mélange 2024, to share her latest conceptual fashion project, Out of the White, exploring themes of identity, power and individuality through design.
Our Founder and Creative Director, Candy Ellie Graham, reflected on the evening:
"We've spent years creating opportunities for designers to showcase their work, but visibility is only one part of the journey. We wanted to create a space where people could have honest conversations about the business side of fashion, share experiences and explore different ways of generating income. It was wonderful to see the level of engagement, particularly the questions from the audience and the conversations that continued afterwards."
A huge thank you to everyone who attended and contributed to the conversation, and to Zone29, University of Westminster, for supporting and hosting the event. Special thanks also to The Little Kindness Foundation CIC UK volunteers, Cultural Fashion & Arts team members Anna Au Yeung, Raine Pham and everyone who helped make the evening possible.
We look forward to building on these conversations and continuing to support emerging and diverse creatives through future events and initiatives.
Find Out More About Our Panel
Michael Burgess — Founder, Creative Resilience International
Alison Lewy MBE — Fashion Angel | Fashion business advice, funding and Global Talent visa support
Jatin Patel — Kalikas Armour | Couture and ready-to-wear fashion
Rae Sims (Rae Jones) — University of Westminster | Fashion Marketing and Promotion
Mahfuza Begum — BY BDSHA | Contemporary modest fashion
Candy Ellie Graham — Cultural Fashion & Arts CIC | Cultural Style Week
Interested in Collaborating with the University of Westminster?
Zone29, University of Westminster connects businesses and community organisations with students and graduates through mentoring, work experience, live projects and wider collaboration opportunities.
To explore how your organisation could get involved, email collaborate@westminster.ac.uk.
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