Source Fashion opened today at Excel London, marking the beginning of a landmark new chapter for the UK’s leading responsible sourcing show. Its largest and most international edition to date brings together manufacturers, buyers, brands and sourcing professionals from across the globe, demonstrating the continued evolution of fashion sourcing and the industry’s growing focus on building resilient, transparent and commercially successful supply chains.
Buying teams, Debenhams Group, John Lewis, Skinnydip London, Harvey Nichols, Tesco, Marc Jacobs, Reiss, Jaded London, Percival Menswear, Omnes, Gigi & Olive, Goddiva, Dominos and Westham United were among those exploring the exhibition floor on the first day. Busy aisles, packed content sessions and consistently active exhibitor stands created a vibrant atmosphere throughout the day, with buyers and manufacturers taking advantage of the show’s new home at Excel London to forge new connections, explore sourcing opportunities and build new commercial relationships.
Buyers and exhibitors drive early business conversations
Across the exhibition, buyers met with manufacturers to explore new partnerships, materials and production capabilities, with exhibitors reporting strong commercial interest and high-quality conversations from the outset. From the expanded British Pavilion and the show’s first Vietnamese Pavilion to established sourcing regions across Europe, Asia, Africa and the Americas, discussions reflected growing demand for diverse, responsible and commercially viable sourcing solutions.
That early momentum was reflected in feedback from visitors. Yoki Wang, Production Manager at Skinnydip London, said: “We’ve already identified a supplier from India that we feel meets our requirements, so the show has been really useful for us. Having Source Fashion here in London makes a real difference because it allows different members of our team to come in, explore new suppliers and continue those conversations. Being able to see products in person, discuss sampling and build relationships face-to-face really helps speed up the sourcing process.”
Industry conversations focus on the future of sourcing
The opening day’s content programme drew strong audiences as buyers, manufacturers and industry leaders came together to discuss the future of responsible sourcing. Alongside sessions exploring UK manufacturing and product durability, the Source Debates stage tackled one of fashion’s biggest sustainability challenges with ‘Is Fashion Drowning in ESG Reporting?’. Led by Rachel Franklin, Director of ESG at Simple Approach, the discussion examined how growing regulatory demands are reshaping the way brands approach ESG reporting, with panellists calling for greater collaboration and standardisation to ensure compliance delivers meaningful action.
The ‘Reality of Manufacturing in the UK’ panel brought together Suzanne Ellingham, Event Director at Hyve Group, Jenny Holloway, CEO of Fashion Capital, and Salli Deighton, Founder of LaundRE, for a candid discussion on the future of British manufacturing. Challenging long-held perceptions around cost and capacity, the panel highlighted how UK manufacturers are helping brands respond more quickly to trends while calling for greater industry recognition and stronger collaboration to unlock the sector’s full potential. The session reinforced Source Fashion’s commitment to championing British manufacturing and providing a platform for the conversations needed to drive meaningful change.
Holloway said: “There is so much opportunity in UK manufacturing. We have the skills, the flexibility and the ability to respond quickly to trends, yet too many businesses still believe it’s not possible. We need to start making more noise about what this sector can do.” Deighton echoed the importance of innovation, adding: “We’re trying to change the industry by doing things differently. We’re proving that innovation, technology and UK manufacturing can work together, creating exciting new jobs while helping brands solve real commercial challenges.” Ellingham added: “This is a call for collaboration for all UK trade bodies to come together and to drive the movement forward and give UK textile and fashion manufacturing the support it deserves.”
The ‘Balancing Cost, Speed and Durability in an Uncertain World’ panel brought together Jasmin Malik Chua, Climate and Labour Editor at Sourcing Journal, Dr Kate Baker, EPR Technical Manager at WEFT, and Sarah Coleman, Head of Development, Design and Sustainability at Margaret Howell, to explore how brands can build greater resilience into their sourcing strategies. The discussion highlighted durability as both a commercial and sustainability priority, with panellists examining how long-term supplier relationships, product quality and customer trust are becoming increasingly important as brands navigate economic uncertainty, changing consumer expectations and evolving legislation. Coleman explained: “Durability starts with the idea that something deserves a place in your wardrobe, not just for a season or two, but for years.”
Innovation across the show floor
Beyond the conference programme, Source Fashion brought sourcing to life through a series of immersive experiences. The Source Catwalk explored the season’s defining product directions through curated trend scenes spanning denim, knitwear, elevated neutrals, greens, sculptural silhouettes, swimwear and circular fashion, before concluding with a showcase from Neuthread celebrating innovation in textile reuse and circular design. Elsewhere, The Factory by ApparelTASKER demonstrated live garment production on the show floor, while Fashion Deconstructed combined workshops and live demonstrations exploring craftsmanship, repair, material innovation and the future of responsible production.
Suzanne Ellingham, Event Director said: “Today has been everything we hoped this move to Excel London would achieve. The quality of buyers, the international reach of the show and, most importantly, the conversations taking place across the exhibition floor have reinforced that the industry is looking for practical solutions, not just products but partnerships and long-term solutions. Buyers are asking different questions about resilience, transparency, speed and innovation, and manufacturers are responding with genuine collaboration and expertise. What has been particularly encouraging is the appetite to challenge long-held assumptions, whether that’s around British manufacturing, durability or building stronger supplier relationships. Source Fashion has always been about bringing the right people together and today has shown that the industry is ready to embrace new ways of thinking about sourcing. This feels like the beginning of an exciting new chapter for the show and for the industry it serves.”
Source Fashion continues tomorrow at Excel London with a packed programme of debates, live demonstrations, catwalk presentations and networking opportunities as buyers and manufacturers continue to build the partnerships and explore the innovations shaping the future of responsible fashion sourcing.