Consistent orders, stronger supplier relationships and public procurement were among the priorities highlighted at Manchester Made & Regions, as manufacturers, brands and retailers explored practical ways to strengthen UK fashion manufacturing.
Organised by Source Fashion, Fashion-Enter Ltd and the Apparel & Textile Manufacturers Federation (ATMF), and taking place at Manchester Hall on 4 November, the event focused on rebuilding domestic production capacity, protecting specialist skills and creating more reliable demand for British factories. Discussions covered commercial opportunities ranging from regional sourcing and new technology to closer collaboration across the supply chain.
Building consistent demand for British factories
Jenny Holloway, CEO of Fashion-Enter Ltd and chair of the ATMF, chaired the opening panel on rising operating costs, declining factory numbers and the need to attract investment. Public procurement emerged as a potential route to more consistent orders, giving manufacturers greater confidence to invest in equipment, training and growth. Speakers also called for closer links between manufacturers, education providers and policymakers.
Commenting on the challenges facing the sector, Holloway says, “We have incredibly skilled manufacturers in this country, but it has become far too difficult for many of them to survive. We need to bring the industry together, create more consistent opportunities for British factories and ensure the skills we still have are not lost. Public procurement has the potential to make a real difference, but it needs to translate into orders and investment that support UK businesses.”
Meanwhile, Community Clothing founder Patrick Grant outlined the brand’s approach to supporting British production through long-term supplier relationships, consistent orders and a permanent range of everyday clothing rather than seasonal collections.
Working with 59 UK partner factories, the business plans production further ahead and reduces traditional retail and marketing overheads to offer affordable, high-quality British-made products. Grant also highlighted that 95p in every pound spent with the business goes back into the UK economy.
Discussing the potential benefits of increasing production, Grant says: “Everybody always says that the UK is an expensive place to manufacture. And right now, with the industry as it is, it is expensive, but it’s good. But if it were twice the size or three times the size, it would get a lot less expensive because the efficiencies in those factories, both operating efficiencies and overhead efficiencies, would start to come down dramatically.”
Opportunities for closer sourcing
Providing a wider market perspective, Marguerite LeRolland of Euromonitor International presented research on how consumer expectations, rising costs and global trade pressures are reshaping sourcing across Europe. Consumers are increasingly prioritising quality, comfort, durability and value for money, while brands face pressure to develop more resilient and responsive supply chains.
LeRolland highlighted opportunities to nearshore or reshore selected product lines as tariffs, regulatory requirements and demand for faster responses encourage more diversified, regional production. Locally made products are also resonating with shoppers, strengthening the case for closer relationships with manufacturers near brands’ end markets.
Regional networks and manufacturing innovation
Gemma Gratten, co-founder of Manchester Fashion Week and the Northern Fashion Collective, discussed how regional initiatives are supporting emerging talent, strengthening industry networks and creating routes into fashion careers. Zerotech also highlighted how practical technology can improve material efficiency, reduce waste and lower production costs.
Turning industry discussions into action
Alongside the conference, manufacturers and industry organisations from Manchester and across the UK showcased their capabilities to brands, retailers and sourcing teams. The event forms part of a wider Source Fashion and Fashion-Enter Ltd initiative to raise the visibility of UK manufacturers, strengthen supply chain relationships and build a more unified industry voice.
Suzanne Ellingham, event director of Source Fashion, adds, “There is a real opportunity to strengthen British fashion manufacturing, but we need to move beyond talking about its potential and focus on the practical steps that will make a difference. That means bringing manufacturers, brands, retailers and policymakers together to address the commercial challenges facing the sector and identify where meaningful progress can be made. Manchester Made & Regions is about building momentum, creating stronger connections across the industry and ensuring the conversations we are having lead to tangible action. Industry and government have an important role to play in supporting UK factories and creating the conditions for domestic production to grow.”
The discussions will help inform the next edition of Source Fashion at Excel London on 19-21 January 2027, with responsible manufacturing, supply chain innovation and practical sourcing solutions central to the programme. Manchester Made & Regions will now continue its regional programme, with Scotland identified as the next destination in the first quarter of 2027.