"With the uncertainty of Brexit, which has dulled spending, a wish to be more environmentally conscious and competition from new market disruptors such as clothing rental subscription businesses, fashion designers have got their work cut out to succeed in 2020," adds Amy Packham.
The beauty of a show such as Textile Forum is that designers can work closely with their fabric suppliers, order small minimums and meet customers' individual demands for bespoke outfits. As such they can generate luxurious signature led designs with longevity and do their bit towards sustainability.
"Fabric suppliers on their part are, despite difficult trading conditions, investing more in the depth of their collections as well as improving their online presence and trying to work smart to reduce their impact on the planet. Michael's Bridal Fabrics has spent the last 18 months building its new transactional website. "We wanted to take the very best of the user experience that our customers get when shopping with leading online traders and translate that into their fabric purchases," says Michael Bristow, managing director. Customers will be able to see every fabric, in every shade, know the stock levels and have their order history to hand as well as other useful features.
Partap Fashion Fabrics will also be promoting its new website as well as a collection of eco-friendly fabrics. Exhibitors to Textile Forum span the whole gamut of fabrics from silks, laces,embroideries and cottons through to woollens, leather and faux fur. Once again a group of garment manufacturers and producers of services such as pattern cutting and the creation of tech packs, will be found in the dedicated UKFT Manufacturing Zone.
Designers and brands are increasingly looking for UK production and the zone is part of UKFT's aim to facilitate partnerships to ensure that all parts of the industry can continue to grow, says Adam Mansell, CEO, UKFT. Textile Forum is an ideal place to do this, with a vast array of fabrics to inspire these discussions."
Find out more at textileforum.org.uk
