Education programme will see WGSN, Coloro, ASBCI, Sedex, Textile
Forum, and IHKIB tackle some of the biggest issues facing the fashion
supply chain
Pure Origin, the new sourcing and manufacturing show taking place alongside Pure London, has announced that leading organisations and businesses including WGSN, Coloro, ASBCI, Sedex, Textile Forum, and IHKIB, will join them to deliver a topical programme of education, industry intelligence and insights into the future of fashion which includes transparency in product sourcing and a sustainable approach.
Julie Driscoll, Managing Director of Pure London says: “A host of seminars discussing manufacturing in the UK, ethical fashion, the circular economy, how to source sustainably and build sustainable and efficient supply chains, trend forecasting for sustainability, and how the fashion industry can change the way it uses and re-uses textiles and clothing, puts the spotlight firmly on achieving a sustainable and ethical future for fashion.”
Offering a sneak preview of its SS19 Fabric Forecast presentation taking place on the Origin Stage on Sunday 11th February, Helen Palmer, Director of Knitwear, Materials and Textiles from leading global trend authority WGSN, says: “In fashion, product track-and-trace services will continue to rise and technologies such as blockchain allows all parties of the value chain (supplier, manufacturer, retailer, consumer) visibility into products, from source through production to store. This we feel will drive greater transparency in product sourcing from raw fibre through to final product and this will tap into an increasingly more ethical approach.”
She adds: “Despite the shift from consumers to an experience and services economy, people continue to buy goods at accelerated, over-consumed rates. The circular economy will continue to challenge the retail industry and drive the supply chain to do much better in sustainable practices and transparency. Many brands and retailers working behind the scenes to close production loops, which is crucial to remain relevant, particularly with younger consumers, for whom climate change, post-industrial waste and sustainable materials are serious issues.
Brands will also do better by creating customer-facing initiatives to make it more convenient for customers to buy into recycling, mending, and re-selling, offering attractive initiatives for customers to do so. In short, brands that partner closely with suppliers, innovate eco-materials and processes and keep in mind the entire life-cycle of their products will lead a sustainable future. Looking into the near future, for textiles, we see ethical and vegan materials becoming more viable, tapping into the rise in vegan diet and lifestyles. Eco-leather and down substitutes, as well as recycled, bio and regenerated natural and synthetic fibres, will gain popularity.”
Jonathan Ivelaw-Chapman, CEO at non-profit organisation Sedex Global, will be discussing transparency in the supply chain on a global scale on Monday 12th. He says: “The advent of technology is now challenging the way in which we see the fashion and garment industry mobilise. The use of automation, and the demands of consumers to move to a more agile demand, means that different ways of manufacturing and sourcing are already being seen to impact. Anticipating the demand for investment and working out where the gaps in your supply chain are likely to appear during the next decade will be the biggest challenges affecting the fashion and retail industry.”
Widely regarded in the fashion industry, The Association of Suppliers to the British Clothing Industry (ASBCI) draws on the knowledge and connections of its members to offer support across many aspects of the clothing industry and supply chain. Chairman Alistair Knox, who will join a panel discussion on Tuesday 13th February exploring the pros and cons of UK manufacturing and re-evaluating the proposition of reshoring manufacturing says: “The ASBCI is pleased to be able to support Pure London’s programme of expert seminars at Olympia this spring. As a trade association with particular strengths in management and technical aspects of the clothing supply chain, the ASBCI has a strategy of sharing knowledge and best practice for the benefit of the UK fashion industry.”
Further insights come from leading colour system business Coloro. Each day at the show Head of Colour Ann-Kristin Kassler and Colour Consultant Joanne Thomas, both from Coloro, will demonstrate how to win with colour. Thorsten Traugott, Managing Director at Coloro outlines the importance of colour accuracy: “Choosing the right colour is one thing; producing it accurately on your product is another and we understand the frustration and wasted cost in getting it wrong.
Using codes and data to communicate colour makes for higher accuracy, faster. Knowing all your colours by code also means producers can optimise the number of colours they produce, saving wastage cost that today gets transferred onto the retail price. Coloro will help companies provide better products to consumers with less wastage.”
Held in the heart of London alongside Pure London and Pure Man, Pure Origin is the gateway for international manufacturers to break into the UK market, meet with thousands of visitors from the fashion retail ecosystem and be a part of a market whose growth rate is leading across Europe. Across the three days, Pure Origin will offer over 20 seminars, for the full schedule visit Here.
Pure Origin will offer a unique opportunity for connected and efficient business by facilitating easy access to global suppliers and fuelling networking and trade. Over 60 manufacturers from around the world will be exhibiting, including Handloom Export Promotion Council members from India, IMPROMUNDI from MOROCCO, Confenix, LaGofra and Ribeiro & Matos from Portugal. While an upsurge in British manufacturing is reflected in a strong UK contingency at the show with Oxford Blue, LS Manufacturing Ltd, Gil Design Studio, Kalopsia Collective and BeFab Be Creative UK showing.
Pure London now welcomes over 800 brands from 48 countries and over 10,000 UK and International visitors. For more information visit www.purelondon.com. The next edition will take place from 11th-13th February at London Olympia.