Source Fashion, Europe’s leading responsible sourcing show, opened its doors today, Tuesday, 18th February, at Olympia London, attracting record-breaking visitor numbers. Buyers, retailers, and sourcing professionals from around the world gathered at the highly anticipated event, including representatives from industry giants such as NEXT, John Lewis, Reiss, Maebe, ASOS, Evans, Harrods, Hunter Boots, Lipsy, Barbour, Claires, NBA, Fortnum and Mason, Sophia Webster, The Hippie Shake and French Connection. With a shared commitment to driving positive change in the retail sector, attendees explored innovative sustainable solutions and forged impactful connections that are set to shape the future of fashion.
The event features an impressive line-up of responsible manufacturers from around the globe with the spotlight on the UK, Portugal, Egypt, India, Indonesia and Nepal.
Nicola Kirby, Head of Sourcing, Fashion and Home, John Lewis commented, ‘’Sourcing is really important to us, and having an event like this so close to our head office in London allows us to connect with both new and existing suppliers. We’re seeing exciting opportunities in emerging markets, including Egypt and Indonesia, alongside strong tailoring expertise here. Specifically, we are looking for new childrenswear suppliers and exploring ways to expand our sourcing network. The event provided a crucial platform for discovering new suppliers, discussing regional trends, and assessing sustainable solutions. We’ve been to every show so far and this year is bigger and more vibrant than ever. There’s a strong presence of buyers, fabric suppliers, and garment manufacturers. The discussions around circularity and global sourcing challenges have been particularly valuable.’’
Niren Shah, Owner of Desert Crafts, commented, “We manufacture womenswear, menswear and kidswear right from wholesale to high street. We export a lot to the UK, alongside Australia, Spain, US and Germany – but my main focus at the moment is to grow our business in English speaking countries. One of my regular clients has visited today and we’ve met some high-street retail brands too – it’s been a great day overall. I’ve been exhibiting here for so many years now, for both February and July editions – and we’ve already re-booked for July this year!’’
The Source Catwalk Show held three times daily, captivated audiences with standout collections from exhibitors. Three distinct trends – Reconstructed, Circus, and Romance – captured the energy of the season, complemented by a vibrant swimwear story curated by sustainable stylist Rebekah Roy. Closing the show in style, headline designer Stuart Trevor, founder of All Saints and a passionate sustainability advocate, unveiled his latest label, STUART TREVOR, showcasing contemporary designs crafted from sustainable and repurposed materials.
The panel discussions on the Source Catwalk Stage and lively conversations on the Source Debates Stage have also drawn crowds with a series of thought-provoking talks from leading industry professionals discussing the latest trends and topics in sustainable fashion.
Speaking on the Source Catwalk Stage, Nick Reed, Founder of Neem London, chaired a panel discussion titled “From Fast Fashion to Circularity – Encouraging Consumers to Embrace Sustainable Fashion Models.” Charlotte Pumford, Head of Sustainability at Vivobarefoot, highlighted three key elements for circularity: slowing down production by focusing on local, on-demand manufacturing; designing products with intentionality for repair, durability, and recycling; and maintaining transparency to understand the impact of manufacturing.
Jackie Andrews-Udall, Sustainability Director at Johnstons of Elgin, emphasised two categories of circular textiles: “soil-to-soil” biodegradable materials and “recyclable” textiles that can be reintroduced as new products. She praised wool and silk for their recyclability and ability to nourish the soil at the end of their life. Sarah Jordan, Founder and CEO of Y.O.U. Underwear, pointed out the challenge of changing consumer behaviour, as many are accustomed to synthetic fibre blends that enhance fit and appearance. She stressed that overcoming this mindset is essential for achieving circularity in fashion.
On the Source Debates Stage, topics ranged from how to produce less while maintaining the same level of profit, to the use of authentic language, building trust, and what can be perceived as greenwashing. However, the liveliest debate of the day came when Giovanni Beatrice, Founder of Forward in Fashion joined Sherin Hosni, Executive Director of the Apparel Export Council of Egypt, to discuss North Africa’s potential as a sourcing alternative to Asia.
Beatrice highlighted a shift from traditionally low-cost Asian manufacturers towards more sustainable sourcing, driven by environmental concerns and stricter legislation. They noted growing interest in African countries such as Morocco, Tunisia, and Egypt, emphasising the importance of matching products to the right markets while minimising environmental impact. Hosni underscored Egypt’s emergence as a leader in high-quality, responsibly produced apparel, supported by efficient business services and sustainable practices.
Giovanni Beatrice, Founder of Forward in Fashion, commented, “Currently Turkey has a very important role in supplying the UK and the EU market. However, due to the inflation and increasing cost and increasing minimum wage, the business is being forced to move. The next best country that also makes fabrics and trims etc. is Egypt, and right now, Egypt is a magnet for everybody that’s struggling with production in Turkey. Next to that, it’s all about environmental impact. If we look at nearby countries, Egypt has the lowest minimum wage and zero import duties to the EU. The industry is also looking to increase their near shoring solutions – If we manufacture in Asia, and transport the goods by boats, environmental impact is high but if you do the same in Egypt, environmental impact is much less!”
New to the show Egyptian Pavilion showcases 20 companies, highlighting the exceptional quality, craftsmanship, and sustainability practices of Egyptian manufacturers. It offered UK and European buyers an unparalleled opportunity to source responsibly, reinforcing Egypt’s growing reputation as a leader in sustainable fashion production.
Within the Eyptian Pavillion, Omar Abdelfattah, Vice Chair, El Helal Company, commented on exhibiting at the show; “We are at Source Fashion to find new customers, as we are finding that interest from the UK market is growing. Egypt is an important country for manufacturing and sourcing for the UK, it is duty free to the UK and the whole European market and I believe our prices are very competitive. Compared to the long lead time and transit time from Asia, the seven to eight days lead-time make us much more appealing”
Suzanne Ellingham, Event Director of Source Fashion, said, “I’m thrilled that today has seen record numbers of visitors come through the door. That’s including serious buyers from the UK’s largest brands and retailers who are looking to forge new relationships and do better business. Our mission is to connect international manufacturers with UK and European buyers seeking responsible sourcing solutions, and the show is delivering on this promise.
The inspiring and eye-opening content program kicked off with industry leaders in sustainability addressing the biggest challenges in responsible manufacturing and sourcing today. I have been blown away by the source Debates stage and the audience participation, Hearing the conversation from the industry and seeing people sharing publicly their ways of working, really just doesn’t happen very often. We have a platform that allows this to happen and that, to me, is something we are incredibly proud of. We’re excited for what’s still to come over the next two days.”
Source Fashion will be open again from 9:30 am tomorrow until Thursday, 20 February 2025.
