LEADING figures in Scottish fashion have accused ministers of snubbing the industry, which is home to some of the fastest-rising stars of haute couture.

Government funding for the Scottish Fashion Awards, the showpiece event held at Stirling Castle, has been cut from £20,000 last year to about £5,000 this year.

While Jack McConnell, the former first minister, attended the inaugural awards in 2006, Alex Salmond turned down an invitation for last year's event and has yet to confirm if he will take part this year.

The funding cut and lack of government support is seen as a slap in the face by some fashionistas and has provoked widespread anger at a time when Scots designers are the talk of the catwalks and feature regularly in the pages of fashion magazines such as Vogue.

Christopher Kane, from Newarthill, Lanarkshire, was named designer of the year at last year's awards. He is one of the rising stars in the fashion world and his creations have been worn by Kate Moss and Victoria Beckham.

Jonathan Saunders from Glasgow, who has designed dresses for Kylie Minogue, won plaudits for his inaugural New York show earlier this year.

Fashion experts argue that Scottish haute couture should be used to promote the country internationally as an alternative to the traditional tartan and shortbread image.

However, they claim that ministers' ignorance of fashion trends has meant that they are not giving adequate support to the industry, which employs 22,000 people in Scotland.

“When you have the cream of the fashion world gathering at Stirling Castle, the Scottish government should pick it up and run with it, but it's always challenging to get government funding,” said Tessa Hartman, founder of the Scottish Fashion Awards.

“Highland events and sporting events receive a lot more funding yet they are not going to adorn the pages of international magazines and be seen all over the world.

“I don't think there is enough knowledge within government about the great things that are happening in Scottish fashion and the talent they could sell abroad.

“If the first minister was to come to the fashion awards and meet all these fashion industry figures, and hear the accolades they have for Scotland as a fashion brand, then he may have a different view.”

Vogue, the fashion bible, has signed up as an official partner for this year's fashion awards, whose judging panel will feature Daphne Guinness, the fashion expert and heiress.

Dolly Jones, editor of Vogue.com, the magazine's website, said the wealth of talent in Scotland meant that the country should have its own fashion week.

“Scotland is the place to find it all,” she said. “Fashion weeks are springing up all over the world, they find the best in the world and celebrate in each region. Scotland has these huge talents who can operate on the world stage. Why not celebrate where they're from? It would be missing a trick not to.”

Sarah Davidson, who runs the Jane Davidson fashion boutique in Edinburgh, said: “Scottish fashion is internationally renowned. We have beautiful fabrics, and people working at the top end of the industry.”

A Scottish government spokeswoman said: “The Scottish Fashion Awards is a great showcase for our country's fashion and design industry and we remain committed to its continual success.

“In order to fully support Scotland's fashion industry and the sterling work of our innovative designers, we need to look at how best we spread any funding to maximise all opportunities for the industry to contribute to Scotland's creative and commercial development.”

A spokeswoman for VisitScotland said it was working with designers, including Kane, to promote Scotland abroad.

Times Recommends

• Tree stump 'shows image of Virgin Mary'
• BBC drops Strictly judge for younger model
• Trafalgar Square 'reduced to a spectacle'