British Vogue Editor Alexandra Shulman drew a packed crowd to the UKFT Rise event last week, the body which supports the fashion and textiles industry, as she spoke on the future of print publishing and how to balance print and online. The event was held at Facebook’s UK head quarters in London.

With 21 years at the helm of Vogue, Shulman has seen major shifts in the industry. But when asked about the most exciting time in her career she said “now,” with such an upheaval in the publishing world. Despite the popularity of online, she maintained that print was still a hugely powerful medium for brands and that the evolution of digital should be seen as an opportunity not a threat.

Shulman said content should be created because it is right for the brand, not just to gain hits, and described how her online and print team at Vogue are now integrated, with print journalists writing articles online for the first time.

She concluded by reaffirming her commitment to print, saying that Vogue readers still wanted to buy and indulge in a print magazine, but added: “I hope print does not die out before I do.”

To find out more about Shulman’s career history, her time at Vogue and her thoughts on publishing, watch this fantastic video interview she did with ShowStudio.

WATCH THE VIDEO HERE>>

The winner of the UKFT Rising Star Award Emma J Shipley also gave a talk, offering an insight into her burgeoning fashion career.

Emma’s hand drawn and printed silk scarves are now sold globally, in luxury stores including Liberty and Harvey Nichols. As a Royal College of Art Graduate, she used her artistic flair to create unique fashion pieces which are beautiful and timeless. She now plans to expand her business into new markets and into new product categories going forward.

Visit UKFT.org for more details on the organisation, membership and future events.

Emily @FashionBite xx