A preview of the seminars and speakers at Source Fashion, Europe’s premier responsible sourcing event, which will take place at Olympia London from February 18–20, 2025, has been released. These include Stuart Trevor, the founder of All Saints, Andrew Xeni, the founder of Nobody’s Child, Safia Minney MBE, and the first-ever Source Debates.
Source Debates, which makes its debut at the February show, will address some of the most important and thought-provoking issues in sustainable design. This area encourages participants to have candid conversations with other fashion firms and retailers, industry experts, and sourcing and sustainability specialists. The area will question the status quo and investigate workable answers to the most difficult problems facing the sector.
Designed to be an interactive forum, Source Debates provides a platform for honest discussion, to connect with peers and debate the future of sustainable fashion. It’s a unique opportunity to learn and uncover fresh perspectives on what meaningful change could look like. Expect to hear from speakers including Simon Platts, Co-Founder of Recomme, social entrepreneur Safia Minney MBE, Mike Coates from the CMA, fashion futurist Geraldine Wharry and many more to be confirmed, on topics including:
- Back to the future – how do we slow down consumption and produce less?
- The language of sustainability
- Overcoming the fear of sustainability
- Taking the lead: Collaboration in the absence of legislative change
- Speculative design thinking – preparing for the future of fashion retail
- Breaking the cycle – driving systemic change in fashion supply chains
Additionally, guests are welcome to attend three full days of seminars on the Source Catwalk Stage that will cover a variety of topics, such as discussions with some of the biggest names in the industry, advice on the newest laws and certifications, and discussions about sustainability and circularity.
On Tuesday at 11.30 a.m., Charlotte Pumford, Head of Sustainability at Vivo Footwear, and Jackie Andrews-Udall, Sustainability Director, Johnston’s of Elgin, will participate in a panel discussion titled “From fast fashion to circularity – encouraging consumers to embrace sustainable fashion models” as part of the speaker program on the Source Catwalk Stage.Under the direction of Andrew Goodacre, CEO of the British Independent Retailers Association, they will talk about consumer education, developing a sustainable brand in a challenging market, and the obstacles and paths to a more circular economy while competing with fast fashion companies.
Join Catherine Loader, Sustainability Manager, and Nicola Kirby, Partner and Head of Sourcing, from John Lewis at 12:25 p.m. forBridging the gap includes integrating goals and working well with other teams, talking about ways to promote alignment, establishing trust, including sustainability into sourcing choices, and bridging the gap between these crucial tasks.Learn how to combine sourcing goals with sustainability goals to create more impactful results and stronger collaborations.
Join Linda Pimmeshoffer from Insider Trends for Tech and Sustainability at 2:10 p.m. to learn why data is the key to a more environmentally friendly future.This session examines how data-driven innovation may transform fashion’s battle against emissions, with worldwide examples and a vision for a tech-enabled future. Although AI and tech dominate retail buzz, their significance in sustainability is sometimes underestimated. This session covers companies that are setting the standard for innovation, examples from around the world, and what the future can hold if technology can be used effectively.
Join Mark Sumner, WRAP’s Programs Lead, at 3 p.m. forWhat laws are necessary to truly accomplish circularity?The crucial policies required to promote systemic change will be examined in this conversation. What is required to ensure that legislation keeps up with the pressing need for a more sustainable future and to hold policymakers accountable?
Andrew Xeni, the founder of Nobody’s Child and Fabacus, and The Urgency of Transparency will be the first speaker on the agenda on Wednesday at 11 a.m. This session explores how brands can and should take the lead in bringing about significant change in the fashion industry. Transparency is no longer optional; it is essential to sustainability, trust, and accountability. Brands must take the initiative to demonstrate the whole impact of their operations as consumers want to know the story behind everything from the raw ingredients to the final clothing. Xeni will examine why sustainability is based on transparency, how it fosters trust, and how businesses are driving this change. Learn how embracing transparency can empower consumers and bring about significant change, from exposing supply chain practices to establishing new norms for responsibility.
The subject of degrowth is covered at 12:15 p.m. inCan sustainable fashion change as we move toward a degrowth economy?Degrowth suggests reducing consumption and prioritizing quality over quantity, which could significantly lessen the environmental effect of the fashion industry. This panel, which includes Simon Platts, co-founder of Recomme, and Mark Sumner, programs lead from WRAP, will go over how the concept of degrowth can impact the fashion industry by extending the lifecycle of clothing, promoting ethical consumption, and boosting long-term business survival, as well as how brands and retailers can get there.
Stuart Trevor, the founder of All Saints, takes the stage at 1:30 p.m. for a fireside discussion on a clothing company that doesn’t make clothes. By transforming used clothing into brand-new, fashionable items, Trevor’s company is revolutionizing the fashion industry and demonstrating that upcycling and circularity are the keys to sustainable fashion. Trevor’s company focuses on turning used clothing into new, fashionable items rather than adding to the cycle of overproduction. This conversation will explore how this creative strategy not only cuts waste but also questions the established fashion industry model. This business exemplifies a potent substitute for quick fashion by upcycling and reusing materials, demonstrating how circularity can be included into operations without compromising on quality or style.
Ecosystem Thinking in Fashion: Redesigning for Regeneration is presented by Safia Minney MBE at 2:10 p.m. Safia Minney will investigate methods for implementing regenerative and circular models, scaling up these procedures, and encouraging cooperative supply chain solutions. This workshop, which will include presentations from professionals from many industries, aims to equip attendees with useful tools for revolutionary change.
The show welcomes Anna Berry, the director and co-founder of Retail 100, on Thursday at 10.30 a.m. Berry will describe ways to reduce operational risk while promoting expansion and profitability in ways to Work with New Markets Safely?A careful balance between potential and risk is necessary while navigating new markets, particularly in places like Africa. Through the selection of appropriate certifications that guarantee ethical sourcing, environmental responsibility, and regulatory compliance, this conversation will examine how companies may successfully de-risk their operations in emerging markets. Berry will also delve into the idea of blended margins, whereby sustainable practices can both reduce risk and open up new growth prospects, allowing for the profitable entry of unexplored markets.
At 11.30 a.m., Ponda CEO Julian Ellis-Brown will present Creating a circular future with natural materials — regenerative agriculture.Fashion may lessen its environmental impact and promote a more sustainable agricultural system by emphasizing natural, renewable fibers that are produced using methods that improve biodiversity and restore soil health. Along with using conventional fibers like hemp and organic cotton, the use of alternative materials is expanding the realm of what is feasible and providing creative solutions that support an environmentally sustainable, circular future.
Join Hayley Shore, the design manager of Pepsi Co., Simon Platts, co-founder of Recomme, and Ella Andrews, knowledge exchange manager and policy lead, Centre for Sustainable Fashion, for a panel discussion on competing priorities at 12 p.m. on how sustainability may triumph over risk and profitability.This panel examines how to make sustainability work without impeding progress and looks at concrete ways that brands can incorporate sustainable practices, as well as real-life examples of how this has been managed successfully while still promoting innovation and controlling risks. As brands strive for sustainability, they must balance innovation, risk, and uncertainty.
At 1:30 pm, Scott Macrae from George at ASDA will take the stage for How to Love Retail, which aims to close the talent gap and raise the next generation of ethical fashionistas.
Aden Newbury, Pricing Analyst, and Lisa Meade, Head of Structural Packaging, both at Kingfisher, will discuss how the company uses packaging data to drive compliance, sustainability, and profitability, bringing about significant change across more than 2,000 stores and intricate global supply chains, during the closing session at 2.10 p.m., Packaging Data: The Lifeblood for Compliance, Sustainability Improvement, and Margin Enhancement. Come hear about their ambitious goals, environmental agenda, and the advancements made in obtaining and verifying reliable data across intricate global supply networks.
Visitors can also be inspired and start their responsible buying journey at the Source Catwalk taking place at 10.30am, 1.30pm, and 3.30pm. See the latest womenswear brought to life as the models show you how to build looks and ranges from the show floor itself.
The full line-up of speakers and sessions will be announced in January 2025.
For more information visit www.source-fashion.com.
