Textile legend, Fashion Designer and Director of MAXXAM, the inventor of the 'Original Crinkle' Rosemary Moore, in collaboration with the Graduate Fashion Foundation, is proud to announce Paballo Sannah Makifafe as the overall winner of the inaugural GFF x MAXXAM design competition, unveiled during the Gala Show at Graduate Fashion Week 2025, held on 16 June at the Truman Brewery, Shoreditch.
The competition, launched earlier this year, invited fashion students from across the UK and internationally to design a SS26 womenswear capsule collection using MAXXAM – the original 4-way stretch crinkle fabric invented by Moore and still in production today.
Posted: 18 June 2025
The popular, coastal Giving & Living trade show will now take place from Sunday 18th to Tuesday 20th January 2026, in its usual venue, Westpoint in Exeter, just one mile off the M5, in the heart of the beautiful South West. The later dates mean that the show no longer clashes with Top Drawer Spring, or Harrogate Christmas Fair. Great news!
Posted: 10 June 2025
Autumn Fair 2025, the UK's largest seasonal showcase for Home, Gift and Fashion, has joined forces with SaveTheHighStreet.org, to launch Retail Makeover Mission, a bold new initiative launching aimed at revitalising independent retail and act as a catalyst for high street regeneration across the UK.
Championing independent retail innovation and resilience, the Retail Makeover Mission is a timely answer to the UK's retail crisis. The campaign launched on Tuesday 10th June with a competition for independent retailers to win a complete business transformation package worth over £10,000, and a survey to understand the pressures facing the industry to help drive positive change.
Posted: 10 June 2025
A new drive to grow the number of small businesses in the UK, through targeted support for side-hustles and start-ups, has been announced by Small Business Britain and eBay.
The new Side-Hustle Lab – a free, six-week online programme, designed to help people get started, scale up, and build successful businesses – will launch on 4th June.
With the number of small businesses falling by 9 percent over the last five years – from a peak of 6 million in 2020 to 5.45 million in 2024 – the organisations are jointly calling for greater support for start-ups, and particularly businesses starting life as side-hustles.
Posted: 3 June 2025
Leading carton manufacturers, Falconer Print & Packaging, has helped Yorkshire-based brand, The Woodland Gift Company, turn a heartfelt vision into a commercial triumph by producing a bespoke, storybook-style jewellery box that has redefined the brand's identity.
Thanks to the team at Falconer Print, what began as a simple prototype crafted on an ironing board has transformed into a beautifully engineered packaging solution.
The whimsical "Storybook Gift Box", opening into an enchanting woodland scene with a jewellery jar nestled inside, has captured customers' imaginations and helped the brand achieve one of its strongest trading periods ever.
"From our first meeting, Falconer Print just got it," said Charlotte Appleton, founder of The Woodland Gift Company.
Posted: 28 May 2025
The winners of Gift of the Year 2025, organised by The Giftware Association, have been unveiled.
Gift of the Year honours outstanding products that capture the spirit of giving across the retail landscape. This year saw a record-breaking number of entries and some of the most inventive, heartwarming, and sustainable gifts the industry has ever seen.
These winners stood out for their exceptional design, innovation, and ability to wow the judges — who were made up of buyers and retailers — and ultimately will see their products in the hands of consumers, whether on the high street, online, or in boutique stores across the country.
Posted: 23 May 2025
G H Stafford & Son LTD — one of the UK's leading suppliers of leathergoods and accessories — is launching a nationwide Window Display Competition to celebrate the creativity of independent retailers. The competition kicks off on Saturday 24th May 2025.
Retailers are invited to submit photos of a window display featuring G H Staffords' products by Monday 7th July 2025, with a £100 account credit awarded to the best entry in each of six regions:
Scotland & NI, North, Midlands, South, Wales, and Ireland.
Posted: 22 May 2025
Source Fashion, the UK's leading responsible sourcing show, is set to welcome an impressive international lineup at its upcoming edition.
Audited manufacturers and suppliers representing more than 25 countries from across the globe include Turkey, Portugal, UK, China, India, France, Sri Lanka and emerging African markets.
Returning 8-10 July to The Grand Hall, Olympia London, Source Fashion will offer UK retailers, brands, wholesalers and corporates a truly global perspective on ethical and innovative sourcing solutions, reinforcing its position as a key hub for international fashion trade.
The Turkish presence at Source Fashion highlights the countries rich textile heritage and among the new exhibitors making their debut this season are Ronin Textile, creating plus size clothing for an international market.
Posted: 20 May 2025
Source Fashion, Europe's leading responsible sourcing show running from 8th-10th July 2025 at The Grand Hall, Olympia London, has announced a new content agenda and inspiring line-up of keynote speakers including Hash Ladha, Former-CEO Jigsaw, Jane Blacklock, Head of ESG, Passenger, Bill McRaith, Executive Adviser Future-Proof Fashion and Mark Sumner, Textiles Lead, WRAP.
The exclusive content program, running through the entire three-day event, is designed to inspire, educate, and challenge visitors. Reflecting the current global market this season will explore how to thrive in a volatile environment and drive opportunity out of crisis, with topics covering economics, trade, materials and sustainability.
Posted: 15 May 2025
Autumn Fair, the UK's largest B2B retail trade show for Home, Gift & Fashion of the season, returns to the NEC Birmingham from 7–10 September 2025, bringing together over 800 leading brands and 12,000+ retail buyers for four days of high-impact product discovery ahead of the busiest season in retail.
At the heart of this year's edition is a powerhouse line-up of industry favourites and bestselling brands across ten curated destinations who use the show as the perfect stage to unveil new products.
Retailers can expect to source from the likes of Candlelight Products, Bedeck, Ty UK, Gingko, Widdop & Co, Kikkerland, Sass & Belle, Bomb Cosmetics, Five Dollar Shake, Baby Republic, Ohh Deer, Powell Craft, and My Gifts Trade.
Posted: 13 May 2025
