James Sleater has been appointed to the Source Fashion Advisory Board, a move designed to leverage his expertise in UK manufacturing and technical apparel production.
While industry observers focus on his new advisory role, Steph McGovern on The Rest Is Money is highlighting a different side of his business life. She describes him as a "Savile Row tailor, because they've got this big dream about, you know, making this 100-million-pound business, getting this MOD contract." McGovern points to the disconnect between government rhetoric and the reality of running Buffalo Systems, noting that despite support from John Healey, the company is finding it "just so hard" to see their ambitions followed through.
The contrast is sharp: one week, Sleater is being celebrated for his leadership at Norton & Sons and his strategic input on national manufacturing policy; the next, he is portrayed as a struggling small-business owner battling red tape. As he balances these roles, the question for listeners remains whether his new board seat will provide the structural leverage he needs to turn those 100-million-pound dreams into reality.
