Burberry’s plans to build a brand new £50 million factory in Leeds, England, have been put on hold following England’s vote to leave the EU. During the brand’s annual meeting last week, it was announced plans would not be scrapped, but would proceed at a much slower pace until the dust from Brexit had settled, and the nation’s economic future was clearer.
Business of Fashion reports the factory was initially slated for completion in 2019: It would be dedicated entirely to weaving and assembling the iconic Burberry trench coat and would create 1,000 jobs in Leeds. Following the meeting, Chairman John Peace assured reporters the plans would still go ahead, albeit at a different pace. “We’ve certainly put it on hold for the moment, but that might be for a very short period of time,” he said, “It depends on how events unfold. It’s not in terms of reversing our decision to do it or not. But it’s the speed at which we invest.”
Credits
Text Isabelle Hellyer
Photography Jason Lloyd Evans