Recent Industry Events & Engagement
- At the recent networking session Fashion Forward Leicester — held at LCB Depot in Leicester — over 70 attendees gathered to get advice and connect factories, start-up brands and scale-ups. Guest speakers from across the industry shared insights on launching a brand and building effective e-commerce channels. One key message: Leicester’s manufacturing talent deserves stronger visibility and support from both industry and buyers. Fashion Capital
- On 25 September 2025, ATMF Chair (and FEL CEO) delivered a keynote at the UKFT Sustainability Conference, where she stressed that true innovation is currently coming from the supplier base. However, she noted this effort needs backing from larger retailers to translate into sustainable business growth for UK suppliers. Fashion Capital
- In a push to expand trade, Fashion-Enter Ltd (FEL) took part in the UK–Ghana Chamber of Commerce dialogue on 1 October, exploring bilateral trade opportunities in garments and textiles. This signals growing interest in UK–Africa supply-chain partnerships. Fashion Capital
Sustainability & Skills: Training, Repair and Circular Fashion
- During Sustainable Fashion Week — running until 5 October — FashionCapital/FEL hosted free drop-in repair and upcycling workshops at their FC Designer Collective shop in north London. Simultaneously in Leicester a Repair Café was held, underlining the union’s commitment to circular fashion and extending garment lifespans. These sessions are supported by local council funding and reinforce the value of community-driven sustainability efforts. Fashion Capital
- FEL has been officially recognised as London’s top-ranking provider of fashion and textile apprenticeships, as listed on the official government portal. This highlights their strong role in training a new generation of skilled garment-industry workers — a critical need for growing demand in ethical, sustainable UK manufacturing. Fashion Capital
- The organisation has also announced a new autumn schedule of short courses (1- to 3-day), plus longer courses in stitching, pattern-making, tailoring, fashion illustration and design/business diplomas — available across Islington, Haringey and Leicester campuses. This breadth of training supports upskilling across all levels of garment production and design. Fashion Capital
What This Means for ATMF and UK Textile Manufacturers
These activities show a clear alignment between FashionCapital/FEL’s mission and ATMF’s objectives around supporting domestic manufacturing, capacity-building and sustainability. Key takeaways:
- Regional manufacturing hubs — like Leicester — are gaining renewed attention. Networking events create opportunities for smaller factories to connect with brands and buyers.
- There is growing momentum behind circular-fashion initiatives: repair, reuse, and upcycling, which help extend garment life and reduce waste. This aligns with long-term industry sustainability goals.
- Skills training and apprenticeships are being actively developed and recognised: this helps ensure the UK retains manufacturing know-how and can meet demand for ethical, locally made garments.
- International trade conversations — like those involving UK–Ghana — suggest opportunities to diversify supply chains and explore cross-border collaboration beyond Europe.
Suggested Action for ATMF / Members
- Support and promote regional networking events (similar to Fashion Forward Leicester) to help factories, SMEs and suppliers showcase capacity and connect with brands.
- Encourage members to engage with circular-fashion initiatives, repair and upcycling — both as part of sustainability strategy and supply-chain differentiation.
- Leverage the training and apprenticeship programmes offered by FEL / FashionCapital to build skills and secure talent pipeline for manufacturing and design.
- Monitor and explore emerging trade partnerships and export opportunities as global demand for ethical and sustainable garments rises.