Source Fashion, Europe’s newest responsible sourcing show, closed its doors following a resoundingly successful show that offered UK brands and retailers a diverse and safe space to source from audited global manufacturers and artisans with a combined focus on responsibly made products from industrial powerhouses such as China and India, up and coming producers and artisans from emerging markets such as Ethiopia, Tanzania, and Madagascar.
The final day continued to welcome an abundance of high-calibre visitors and retailers across the three days including Ann Summers, French Connection, Ghost London, Walt Disney, Joules, Lyle & Scott, Monsoon, Next, PepsiCo, Perry Ellis, Sidemen Clothing, BarnadosNext, Asos, Bentley, Belstaff, Saltrock, Axel Arigato, Liberty London, Moss Bros, Lipsy, M&S, Pour Moir, QVC, Harrods, Sweaty Betty, Boohoo, John Lewis, Tu Clothing, Urban Outfitters, Avery Dennison, Canada Goose, Swarovski, Oxford Shirt Company, Hunter, and many more eager to discover responsible high-quality fashion and with an appetite for new sourcing markets.
Suzanne Ellingham, Director, Source Fashion says, “What we have shown is there is a huge appetite to discover and learn about new sourcing markets. We’re able to point buyers in the right direction, and really speed up that discovery process, to connect our community to people that can be trusted. Visitors are coming to the show to discover who they can work with in Tanzania, Ethiopia, Sri Lanka, or Nepal, as well as create new relationships with Chinese and Indian manufacturers. What’s been wonderful, is talking to visitors when they also discover that many of the producers are also using recycled materials, or natural dyes, then they see and feel the quality of the construction, and then they learn about the impact these businesses have in their local communities. We are creating an environment that makes a compelling case for these makers and manufacturers.”
On the success of the show, Ellingham adds, “We need to remember Source Fashion is only 12 months old. It’s our 3rd edition and already we’re attracting the major fashion retailers and brands, from supermarkets to department stores, to independent and luxury fashion brands and online only retailers, they’ve all visited and started to make new connections with manufacturers that they are excited about working with. I’m delighted to say that we’ve actually built a platform that the largest retailers in the UK want to source from. At every show we’ve improved the quality of products and the breadth of countries and regions.
“I think that has really taken people by surprise. Our mission is to help retailers and wholesalers to spend their budgets with companies that do good responsible business, and I think that is exactly what we’ve done over the last 12 months. Their response has been so positive, and we’ve seen so many successes from across the world, not just enabling UK retailers to source responsibly, but providing a platform for so many artisans and producers around the world to reach the UK market. Source Fashion is growing at a fantastic rate, it’s doing it organically, and with the support of our buying and sourcing community.”
An increasing proportion of the exhibitor base attend via a partnership with the International Trade Centre, the joint agency of the WTO and UN. Its aim is to grow trade opportunities for micro, small and medium-sized businesses (MSMEs), business support organisations, and policymakers in developing and least-developed countries, to improve trade competitiveness, reduce poverty, and strengthen economies. Through the UK Trade Partnerships Programme, with Source Fashion, the ITC aims to increase the volume and value of garment exports and to support local industries to grow employment opportunities in Madagascar and Ethiopia.
The conversation on building connections with new sourcing destinations continued on the show’s content stage. During the morning’s content session, visitors learnt how to take advantage of the UK Developing Countries Trading Scheme and new legislation that removes or significantly reduces import duties from 65 developing countries. The aim of the scheme is to stimulate trade with regions looking to diversify and increase their exports, driving their prosperity whilst providing financial incentives to UK businesses who want to source better.
Ellingham says, “Through our partnerships with the International Trade Centre and the manufacturers that we’re bringing in, we’re building confidence and credibility for buyers to open up conversations with producers in Ethiopia, Tanzania, Madagascar, and Nepal. We work with the ITC who can vet and do the due diligence, so we know that everyone on the show floor is safe to work with. One of the reason’s we started the show was to create a safe buying place.
“Madagascar has one of the highest unemployment rates in the world so a new contract at a factory there can be transformational. I think a lot of sourcing professionals who come to this show want to know they are making a difference in those communities.”
Robin Narindra, President of Lana Sarl whose brand ANAKA offer handmade high quality and ethical accessories made from natural fibres in Madagascar said, “We have been exhibiting at Source Fashion to build partnerships with companies interested in an ethical approach to business, we have taken orders here and had meetings with many more businesses. Coming to Source Fashion also helps us understand the market and how to best blend the designs from the artisans we work with to meet what the UK market wants.”
Visitor Tutu Ejoh, owner of childrenswear brand Tutu Pikin says, “Tutu Pikin is an affordable luxury lifestyle brand made in England but with its heritage proudly rooted in Africa. I’ve come to Source Fashion specifically to meet manufacturers around Africa and Madagascar. Being able to come here and actually feel and touch and meet the people behind the companies is priceless. I’ve never been to any other trade show or fair where I’ve been able to meet these manufacturers that come from all over the globe. I want to produce with manufacturers in Africa and Madagascar because the craftsmanship is phenomenal, and it is just a dream come true to be able to find Madagascan exhibitors here.”
Exhibitor, Nohir Saleh, founder and CEO of The Fashion Incubator said, “The Fashion Incubator concept is about supporting smaller brands. We own our own factory in Cairo and we’re working with smaller brands as well as mass production, producing woven knits and mainly 100% organic Egyptian cotton. We’ve met lots of different types of buyers at Source Fashion including small fashion brands that are looking to expand. We’ve met big chains that want to have new products in their retail stores. So, I think that the variety is really nice, you don’t just get to meet one type of buyers or one type of product developer, you have an array of diversity.”
Manufacturing powerhouses were also well-represented on the show floor. China produces 65% of the world’s clothing, but it is also showing its commitment to setting and meeting green sustainability goals. Many global fashion brands already partner with China for its access to a huge labour pool, sophisticated factories, and seamless supply chains. Ellingham says, “Retailers and visitors who are manufacturing in China and India are still looking at China and India but they are looking at increasing their pool of better manufacturers. And there are some very very good manufacturers in these markets and we want to champion them as much as the artisans and new sourcing regions.”
Sophie Rosenberg, CEO & Chief Designer at NASH ATHLETIC LLC said, ‘’The show was great today we found a lot of possible manufacturers.’’
Looking ahead to the next show in July, Ellingham adds, “In the last year there’s been a huge move towards the production of products made from recycled materials. And the pace of technology and innovation is so fast that I’ve no doubt that at the July show, and most definitely at next February’s edition, we will see even more great ways to reuse waste and efforts to build circularity into business models. We’re also championing the movement towards slower, seasonless fashion with a greater focus and increase in well-made, high-quality products.
One of the biggest takeaways for me that we have seen is the importance of positive reinforcement. We have created a show full of businesses that are doing the hard work in responsible business practices, building in new sustainable practices, doing real good in their communities when it would be often easier to take a less responsible path. You can’t underestimate the positive reinforcement that better business is worth doing, that you will be rewarded for that effort – it opens opportunities and it’s worth the effort. Ultimately we all want to do better business.”
The next edition of Source Fashion takes place from 14th – 16th July 2024 at Olympia London. Visit https://www.source-fashion.com/ for more information.
