Source Fashion, Europe’s leading responsible sourcing show, has concluded another successful edition, welcoming a 32 percent increase in visitor numbers.
Across the three day event, sourcing, designing, sustainability and buying teams from John Lewis, Harrods, NEXT, ASOS, Joseph, New Look, Reiss, Gant, Stella McCartney, Fortnum and Mason, French Connection Hunter Boots, Sophia Webster, Lulu Guinness, River Island, The Saville Row Company, Barbour, Channel, Claires, Hunter Boots, Lucy & Yak, ME + EM, Charlies Tyrwhitt, Birkenstock, Boohoo, QVC and Yours Clothing and many more attended.
Source Fashion has moved beyond fashion, becoming a hub for industries outside of retail, attracting sports teams, major brands, and businesses such as the NBA, West Ham Football Club and Pepsi seeking high-quality, sustainable clothing solutions.
Andrew Xeni, Founder and CEO of Nobody's Child, commented: "Source Fashion is very meaningful. It represents the grassroots of what our industry should be doing and standing for. We are proud to have some of our suppliers on the show floor – these are the innovators shaping the future of fashion."
Laura Taylor, ESG Manager, Boohoo commented: "Source is a great event to meet suppliers from new regions, watch engaging talks from a variety of fashion experts and network with passionate individuals who are providing innovative products to our industry."
An overwhelmingly positive response
With 200 exhibitors from over 20 key sourcing regions, including Turkey, Taiwan, Ethiopia, Egypt, China, India, the UK, France, Hong Kong, and Portugal, the response from exhibitors has been overwhelmingly positive.
Parneet Kaur, Achiever Apparel from India said: "The show has been really good for us –we've seen a high footfall. Source Fashion is a key meeting point where we can connect with existing business partners and meet great new customers. We've noticed that businesses we met at the last show have returned to continue discussions, it definitely helps build trust and confidence seeing us here each time.
"In the UK, we work with The White Company, Nobody's Child, French Connection, and many more. We've also acquired some smaller customers. While the big players are in the room, there are many smaller retailers who are the future of the industry, it's great to be able to support them."
Ayu Siti Maryam, The Embassy of the Republic of Indonesia commented: "The event has been great for us, Source Fashion as an event aligns with our objectives to support our manufacturing industry. We have bought with us the right companies and they're happy because they've had great business opportunities and valuable contacts to follow up on."
Tom Christopher, Sales Manager at National Weaving from UK said: 'As a British manufacturer, we believe a British brand should have a British label—it brings everything together. This show has been really busy for us, and it's great to meet people face-to-face, have real conversations, and understand their business beyond emails or calls. It's always exciting to connect with startups looking for label ideas for their clothing, and this event has been a fantastic opportunity for that."
A thought leader in sustainable fashion
Beyond sourcing, Source Fashion has become a thought leader in sustainability and supply chain management. The event's content programme, delivered across two dedicated stages, The Source Catwalk and Source Debate Stage, provided invaluable insights into the future of responsible sourcing. Industry leaders engaged in conversations on sustainability, supply chain risk, international trade developments, legislation, and innovation, while the catwalk stage showcased what's possible in sustainable fashion and sustainable design from Stuart Trevor.
Fashion activist Caryn Franklin MBE shared her thoughts on the show's impact: "Source Fashion is important to me because it's where I learn. I can be curious and gain knowledge about areas that aren't my speciality. Seeing experts like Safia Minney discussing legislation helps shape the future we want. It's empowering. I'd encourage anyone to attend—not just to source responsibly, but to be part of a community dedicated to making fashion more sustainable."
Simon Platts, Founder, SP&KO Consultancy commented: "I think the show has been absolutely fantastic, it's only six months since the last Source Fashion, but it's moved on yet again. It's about building and continuing to build that community, it's brought in people from sourcing, from buying, from design, from tech, from innovation, from sustainability - it really is bringing in all the different areas that are needed to make sure that Source Fashion is relevant, whether that's products or wanting to hear about the solutions to the problems."
Experts didn't shy away from the difficult questions, from supply chain transparency to circular fashion solutions, through meaningful discussions and audience participation the community really did speak out.
The final day highlights included How to Long Retail – Fixing the Talent Gap and Empowering the Next Generation in Ethical Fashion, featuring Fiona Bailey, Product Learning and Development Manager at NEXT, and Adele Corbello, Sourcing and Production Manager at Vollebak.
They discussed how the fashion industry can build a culture that aligns with values of Gen Z, drives engagement, and tackles talent retention. The conversation focused on fostering the involvement of graduates in the fashion industry to address the talent gap. Emphasising the need for better alignment between academia and the industry.
Corbello and Bailey agreed that a collaborative approach—where the industry supports graduates and vice versa—will produce more informed and experienced talent, benefiting both the industry and academia.
On The Source Debate Stage, Sasha Mc Farlane, Executive Director at Future-Proof Fashion led the final conversation of the day around the struggle within fashion innovation and the mechanisms needed for a better chance of success. The discussion centered on Project Interlace, a six-month initiative involving seven suppliers to reduce overproduction in fashion by aligning supply chains with demand signals. The project promotes a dynamic supply matrix integrating onshore, nearshore, and offshore production to enhance speed and minimise waste.
The debate discussed the need for a more integrated, vertical supply chain and a holistic approach to textile waste.
Suzanne Ellingham, Event Director of Source Fashion, said: "We close the doors to a show that has exceeded all our expectations. Source Fashion is now the must-attend event for anyone looking to source responsibly and discover innovative solutions in ethical manufacturing.
"Over the last three years we have created a trusted buying platform, and by helping buyers simply buy better, we have fuelled job creation, education programmes and given stability to entire communities. We have created game changing impact around the world in the space of three years and the key to our growth is simple. We have a community within this show that cares passionately about building better processes and being more sustainable, and a community who now see this event as their own and are as passionate about it as I am. We are incredibly grateful to everyone in that community and are excited to grow with them and to be that trusted place, for not only buying, to also have discussions that matter."
The next edition of Source Fashion will take place 8-10 July 2025. For more information visit www.source-fashion.com
