Meet the Manufacturer 2014 - an important event this week for British fashion manufacturers

I am privileged to have been invited to contribute to an important conference and trade fair later this week. Meet the Manufacturer aims to boost the renewed interest in British-made fashion and textiles. I will be taking part in one of the panel discussions, chaired by broadcaster and award-winning journalist, Lucy Siegle, giving my view as a blogger and consumer on what Made in Britain means to me. 

The event which will take place on 11th and 12th June 2014 at The Old Truman Brewery in London’s East End. It will be attended by many well-known British manufacturers (some pictured below). Ticket to the trade fair are free, more details below. If you attend, please say hello; I will be there on the 11th June. 

Daniel Harris, London Cloth Mill

Mary Portas, and Ian Maclean, managing director of John Smedley, who operate the oldest manufacturing factory in the world, have been announced as keynote speakers for the event. One and two-day conference tickets can be purchased at www.meetthemanufacturer.co.uk. Day one is targeted at bigger brands aiming to reshore back to the UK, and day two focuses on smaller companies looking to launch and build British brands and work with UK factories. 

James Shaw of Albam who manufacture in UK

Keynote speaker Mary Portas, said: “The lazy shorthand that “British Manufacturing is dead” is simply wrong. Everybody selling anything – particularly clothing and homewares – should ask themselves “could we have made that in the UK?” and ask the question seriously because there’s a good chance the answer is yes. Making things in this country creates jobs and skills of course, but it’s also good for brand reputations, customer relationships and the environment. 

Mary Portas will open the conference and will be joined by an inspiring line-up of manufacturers, fashion brands and industry experts from Private White V.C., Roland Mouret, ASOS, Fashion Enter, Reshore UK and MAS, John Smedley, Joseph Cheaney & Sons, Gaddum & Gaddum, Albam Clothing, Creative Skillset, London Cloth Company, Eve Pollard Designs, David Evans of Grey Fox Blog, The Great British Banjo Company and The All in One Company – providing advice and real-life experiences of building British brands, how to successfully manufacture in the UK and work with British factories, and why producing locally makes good business sense. 

Ian McLean of John Smedley

Kate Hills, founder of Make it British, the campaign for the return of UK manufacturing, said: “We are poised at the start of a new industrial revolution in textile and clothing manufacturing, but this will only happen if retailers, buyers, brands and manufacturers get together to make it happen. Concern over complex supply chains and the use of unethical sweatshops, as well as rising costs overseas and quality issues has fuelled an 850% increase in demand from clothing retailers and fashion brands looking to source locally in the UK. Yet, after years of outsourcing overseas, the industry is disconnected, and more than 60% of manufacturers aren’t yet seeing the impact in terms of this demand. Meet the Manufacturer aims to change this, introduce brands to manufacturers and share knowledge and advice, so that UK fashion and textile manufacturing does indeed return.” 

Further details, including the full line-up of speakers, agenda and tickets for one and both days of the conference, can be found at www.meetthemanufacturer.co.uk.

You can follow Meet the Manufacturer on Twitter https://twitter.com/MiBManufacturer and follow the hashtag #MiBMM