Downing St appointment for Hiut and Blackhorse Lane
UK Fashion and Textile Association (UKFT) hosted the first Manufacturing Matchmaking event at 10 Downing Street, the residence of the UK’s prime minister, in a bid to boost UK manufacturing.
Among manufacturers were jeansmakers Hiut, from Cardigan in Wales, and Blackhorse Lane Ateliers, from London.
Cookson and Clegg, a Blackburn-based outfit that makes jeans for brands including Patrick Grant’s Community Clothing, were also in attendance.
Textiles were represented by The Natural Fibre Company, Maake, Silk Bureau and Standfast & Barracks, while buttons were represented by Courtney & Co.
To match with these UK manufacturers were buyers from Alice Temperley, Anya Hindmarch, Boden, Burberry, John Lewis, Libby London, Margaret Howell, Toast and others.
The event was a great opportunity to shine a light on the UK’s potential as a niche sustainable and ethical supply source for more UK brands, especially those that want to work on a flexible just-in-time basis, said UKTF.
UKFT is also working with the British Fashion Council (BFC) on the Circular Fashion Innovation Network (CFIN) and a wide range of other innovation projects relating to circular fashion, textile recycling and sustainable manufacturing, supported by UK Research and Innovation.
UKFT’s CEO Adam Mansell said: “One of our main priorities at UKFT is to ensure that UK manufacturers get the right skills, education and support to continue to produce quality fashion and textiles sustainably, ethically and competitively here in the UK. This is part of a long term partnership between industry and government.
“At the same time, we recognise that businesses in the UK are often less supportive of domestic manufacturing than in other countries. This needs to change, from public procurement to making sure our imports have to meet the same standards we set for UK businesses to create a level playing field, to ensuring that UK companies can access the UK’s trade agreements around the world.”
Read more about Hiut's plans in our interview with founder David Hieatt, in the latest issue.
