Since founding Cheshire Fashion Week (CFW) in 2019, CEO and Executive Director Claire Namukolo Raven has challenged the idea that elite fashion in the UK belongs exclusively to London. By turning iconic Northern landmarks like Manchester Cathedral into runways for designers from the US, Portugal, France, Ireland, and Nigeria alongside British talent, she has built an internationally recognised platform. Ahead of the event’s landmark expansion to Manchester Cathedral in August 2027, Raven speaks on decentralising British fashion, protecting designer intellectual property, and her wider “Destination North” vision.
Q: For decades, the UK fashion industry has been heavily centralised around London. What inspired you to build a global fashion platform in Cheshire instead of looking toward the capital?
Claire Namukolo Raven: When we started, there was a narrative that regional fashion had to wait for London’s approval or try to mimic what London was doing. I never wanted to copy another city because that does not work over the long term. Northern England has its own creative identity, heritage, and architecture. Starting in Chester gave us a premier stage with Chester Cathedral, and our focus has always been on reshaping the narrative around Northern fashion. We are proving that designers, buyers, and media do not have to leave the North to experience international production standards.
Q: Your runways regularly bring together international designers and labels from the US, Nigeria, Portugal, and France alongside Northern designers. How do you position a regional UK event to attract international talent?
Claire Namukolo Raven: Consistency, credibility, and offering something a standard studio in a major capital cannot. International designers want more than just a slot on a schedule; they want authentic rooms, real commercial footfall, and an engaged audience. When designers from Lagos, Lisbon, or New York see their collections framed by historic Gothic stonework and supported by over 230 backstage professionals, models, and press, they immediately recognise the prestige and production value.
Q: You are also studying for an LLB in Law at the University of Chester while leading the platform. When bringing independent designers onto an international stage, why is intellectual property law so vital for them to understand?
Claire Namukolo Raven: Holding a registered trademark for Cheshire Fashion Week has enabled me to protect my independent work against exploitation and copycats, and it has been vital for scaling the brand. While I had to literally represent my business in intellectual property courts and use my legal training to win the resigistration, I strongly advise any creative to trademark their brand early on. Growing and stepping onto an international runway gives a designer and creative business immense visibility, yet it also exposes their creations to imitation and unauthorised use. Too often, independent creatives pour everything into fabric sourcing, garment construction, and visual identity without safeguarding their designs, brand names, or logos first. Expanding globally requires solid contracts, design rights, and trademark protection. I want emerging brands on our platform to treat intellectual property as a commercial asset rather than an afterthought, ensuring they own and profit from their creativity as they enter new markets
Q: Global retail names like MANGO and luxury automotive partners like Porsche Centre Wilmslow have stepped onto the Cheshire Fashion Week stage. What signals does that send about the commercial power of Northern fashion?
Claire Namukolo Raven: It shows that major commercial partners are paying attention to the spending power and cultural appetite outside London. When MANGO chose our Cathedral runway to highlight its sustainability strategy ahead of launching its new Chester store, or when Porsche Centre Wilmslow integrated automotive design alongside our catwalk, it validated what we have been building independently since day one. These partnerships prove that corporate global brands see the North as a vital market, not an afterthought.
Q: You have also looked closely at how international fashion weeks operate, including studying Malta Fashion Week, while preparing to expand Cheshire Fashion Week to Manchester Cathedral in August 2027. How is that shaping your “Destination North” vision?
Claire Namukolo Raven: Destination North is a vision I have been waiting for the right moment to bring to life. Now is that time, as Manchester is proving to be the premier destination for fashion in the North. Seeing firsthand how platforms like Malta Fashion Week are produced and supported demonstrated the power of a unified regional identity when cultural tourism and fashion come together. While Cheshire Fashion Week was born in Cheshire, our ambition has always reached far beyond a single postcode. Expanding to Manchester Cathedral in August 2027 marks our next chapter, uniting British and international talent across the North’s most iconic cultural landmarks.
Q: Looking ahead, what legacy do you want this international yet local model to leave for emerging Northern designers?
Claire Namukolo Raven: I want Cheshire Fashion Week to expand into other Northern cities so emerging designers from Cheshire, Manchester, and across the North can see that they can build global brands right where they are. Whether through our sustainability vetting, international runway exchanges, or giving new talent a platform alongside established houses, the goal is to keep the Northern creative economy vibrant, independent, and connected to the rest of the world.
