Today's high street is entering "a very interesting period," says Rose. "The customer has never had it so good. Food is cheaper, and clothing is astonishingly much cheaper, than it has ever been. The customer has reaped the benefits of that and, increasingly, she has become accustomed to it. Now, the world is waking up to the ethical price of cheap goods."
Ethical fashion is a huge issue both at high- street level - M&S this year launched Plan A, a high-profile 100-point plan to become Britain's greenest retailer within five years - and at London fashion week, where Esthetica, a platform for eco-sustainable fashion, has won sponsorship from Monsoon and Accessorize. "The customers who can afford it are espousing ethical goods," says Rose, "and we are working hard too. I'm not talking with my M&S hat on here - I think everyone in the industry is trying. We're trying, but we're not perfect." He stresses that the task of monitoring all the independent producers making goods for M&S is immense. "We monitor 2,000 factories a year, with announced and unannounced visits. But we can't watch everyone all the time. In many cases we have to rely on trust."
London fashion week may not yet have unveiled the designer collections for spring 2008, but Rose already has his sights set on 2012. "London will be the hottest city on the planet," he says. "The Olympics aren't just about watching a load of people running around. People coming to London want to experience everything about the city: the culture, the street life, the shopping. Say what you like about [London mayor] Ken Livingstone, he champions London. We should blow our own trumpet a bit more. Do you know what we should have? A Minister for Morale!" Just the job for Rose, perhaps.
RSS