Make it British, the campaign for helping you make it British, sees a rise in the number of requests from businesses looking to work with UK manufacturers. This comes as a survey carried out by Make it British reveals 45 per cent of UK textile manufacturers say business is better than last year.
Kate Hills, CEO and founder of Make it British, explains, ‘We have a wealth of high-end manufacturers in the UK who provide a valuable service to British designers who rely on the skills, flexibility and location of these suppliers when developing their collections for London Fashion Week. We’ve had a rising number of enquiries from people looking for advice on where to find UK manufacturers and how to work with them, so we’ve launched ‘Ask Kate’.
‘It’s a live interactive broadcast with me every Thursday, giving people the opportunity to have their questions answered in real time. We give plenty of essential tips and practical advice for businesses looking to make their products in the UK.’
Caroline Rush, CEO of the British Fashion Council (BFC) adds, ‘Many of our British designers are already manufacturing product here in the UK and we are frequently asked to make introductions and provide more information on the right production partners.’
The Make it British survey showed that many manufacturers are reporting increases in production of 25-50 per cent compared to 2015. Of the 95 UK textile manufacturers taking part, 30 per cent said they were receiving more enquiries now than prior to the EU Referendum. And when asked how positive they felt about the future of UK textile manufacturing, the answer was an average of 3.75 on a scale of one to five.
Make it British organises an annual two-day event, Meet the Manufacturer, which showcases the return of manufacturing to the UK. It’s the only sourcing event exclusively for British fashion, textiles and homeware.
It takes place on 24 and 25 May 2017 at The Old Truman Brewery, London and boasts over 150 exhibitors plus a series of workshops and seminars, connecting manufacturers of textiles, apparel and leather goods with buyers, designers and retailers looking to produce quality British-made products.
Further reading on fashion manufacturers
