An ambitious bid to turn east London into the global capital of fashion technology was launched today in Christopher Raeburn’s Hackney studio.

It is hoped the Fashion District will generate more than 15,000 new jobs, and return world-leading fashion manufacturing and design to the area.

Leading fashion colleges, City Hall, fashion businesses and Hackney, Haringey, Newham, Waltham Forest and Tower Hamlets councils are collaborating on the project.

Fashion is currently worth £1.4bn to the east London economy and more than 10,000 fashion jobs were already created between 2010 and 2015.

Raeburn, who reworks surplus fabrics to create distinctive menswear and womenswear pieces at his the studio in Chatham Place, said: “I hope east London will become more and more vibrant through its community and creativity.

“I really hope we’ll keep seeing makers of all scales move into the area – to either grow what they’re currently doing, or start a new business.”