Pure Origin: Leaders in industry to discuss future of manufacturing

I nnovation, sustainability, fabrics of the future, reshoring, and the impact of Brexit on the fashion supply chain are just a few of the topics set to be discussed by experts and industry leaders within the Origin section of Pure London, the UK’s only fashion and sourcing trade show linking manufacturers, fabric suppliers, designers, logistics, brands and retailers.

Taking place from February 11-13 at London Olympia, Pure London is the only UK show to go from fabric through to the finished brand since launching sourcing event Pure Origin, in collaboration with leading global trend forecaster WGSN and new colour system Coloro.

With Brexit, the increase in private-label, as well as the importance and challenges of sustainability, the new Pure Origin section will offer a dedicated seminar programme to educate, advise and inspire – targeting heads of sourcing, supply chain managers, heads of buying, technical managers, directors of supply chain, quality assurance and global product compliance from brands, retailers, wholesalers, manufacturers and start-ups.

Following a resurgence in British manufacturing, Dr Alistair Knox Chairman of ASBCI (Association of Suppliers to the British Clothing Industry) will join a panel discussion on re-evaluating the proposition of reshoring manufacturing. The ‘Made in Britain’ story continues with a seminar by Simon Middleton of British coastal clothing brand Blackshore on sustainable sourcing and manufacturing in the UK. Stephen Taylor, Industry Principal Director at Kurt Salmon leads discussions on the impacts of Brexit on the fashion supply chain, and industry best practice in product development and sourcing.

For visitors interested in sustainability and innovation, seminars include trend forecasting for sustainability by future trends forecaster Geraldine Wharry; how to source sustainably by Sourcing Sustainably founder Maeve Wadge; how to build compliant, sustainable and efficient fashion supply chains by Malcolm Guy, managing director of The Reassurance Network; and producing ethical designs with socially and environmentally beneficial textiles and fabrics with Offset Warehouse director Charlie Ross.

Linda Laderman, co-founder of the UK Textile Forum will lead a series of interviews with guests on Fabrics for the Future. Ben Alun-Jones, co-founder of Unmade will unravel the Unmade story and look at how customisation in mass production works; and David Rogers from WRAP will help visitors discover how to create a sustainable clothing action plan, extending clothing life and achieve resource efficient business models. Jonathan Ivelaw-Chapman, CEO of Sedex Global takes to the stage to look beyond compliance and how to achieve transparency on the global scale; while Douwe Jan Joustra from C&A Foundation discusses circular economy and how the apparel sector can develop circular economy business models. For start-ups and entrepreneurs, a series of lectures and workshops will offer guidance on working with manufacturers, launching your own label collection, how to source the right manufacturer, the step by step process of garment manufacturing, negotiating prices, quantities and delivery scales.

Pure Origin takes place in collaboration with WGSN and Coloro. WGSN will offer visitors an exclusive and insightful presentation of the key manufacturing future trends for AW18-AW19. Coloro will demonstrate its intuitive, intelligent and universal colour system which is set to revolutionise the way the creative and fashion industry works with colour.

Held in the heart of London alongside Pure London and Pure Man, Pure Origin is the gateway for international manufacturers to break into the UK market, meet with thousands of visitors from the fashion retail ecosystem and be a part of a market whose growth rate is leading across Europe.

Pure Origin will offer a unique opportunity for connected and efficient business by facilitating easy access to global suppliers and fuelling networking and trade. Over 40 manufacturers from around the world, including Blueberry Impex and Timeswell Textile from Hong Kong and Ribeiro & Matos from Portugal have already confirmed. While an upsurge in British manufacturing is reflected in a strong UK contingency at the show with Oxford Blue, LS Manufacturing Ltd, Gil Design Studio, Kalopsia Collective and BeFab Be Creative UK signed up.

Pure London now welcomes over 800 brands from 48 countries and over 10,000 UK and International visitors. For more information visit www.purelondon.com.