25-03-2025
UKFT Drops Supply Chain Responsibility Report
The UK Fashion and Textile Association (UKFT) has rallied the troops to strengthen the United Kingdom's social and compliance efforts as the UK works to boost domestic production and encourage responsible reshoring.
Produced by UKFT with support from UK Research & Innovation (UKRI) and the Circular Fashion Innovation Network (CFIN), the responsible supply chain report is informed by workshops with brands and retailers, textile and garment manufacturers, and social and ethical compliance experts.
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The resulting 'Responsible UK Fashion and Textile Supply Chains' report represents a 'vital step' in the UK fashion and textile ecosystem's reshoring efforts, per the UKFT, compiling solutions and recommendations of relevance as required for UK manufacturing to 'thrive' in both innovation and responsibility.
'By identifying key opportunities and practical solutions, we aim to create positive change that benefits manufacturers, brands and retailers alike,' Adam Mansell, UKFT's CEO, said in the report. 'As global supply chains undergo rapid changes, regulatory requirements grow and businesses aim for ambitious sustainability goals, the opportunities for UK fashion and textile manufacturing have never been greater.'
Those opportunities lie in the industry's shortcomings, such as increased fragmentation, lack of standardized commercial knowledge and inaccessibility to information or platforms relevant to both buyers and manufacturers. For instance, the UKFT's 2023 sustainability survey alleged that 70 percent of UK-based manufacturers want to learn more about ethical compliance—and retailers agreed, noting the missing support and guidance manufacturers need to understand and implement regulations.
'Through extensive consultations with stakeholders across the UK fashion and textile supply chain, we have gathered valuable insights to help the industry improve social and ethical compliance practices in UK manufacturing which are outlined in this report,' Mansell said. 'This understanding is key to increasing domestic manufacturing capacity that can meet the evolving needs of the retail market, unlock new opportunities and address the unique challenges faced by UK manufacturers.'
On the topic of that extensive stakeholder input, the report outlines opportunities across five domains: legislation and policy, training and education, tools and systems, incentives and funding, and demystifying standards. The idea, per the UKFT, is that its experience-shaped recommendations, 'building on its commitment to ethical and sustainable practices,' will help position the UK as a leader in responsible manufacturing.
'The benefits of domestic sourcing are clear: greater responsiveness, flexibility, a smaller carbon footprint and improved visibility into manufacturing environments,' Mansell said. 'By addressing the social and ethical compliance landscape, we can fully unlock these opportunities and drive positive growth for the manufacturing industry here in the UK.'
The report was produced through the CFIN: an industry-led program led by the UK Fashion and Textile Association and the British Fashion Council in partnership with UK Research and Innovation. It, therefore, falls under the network's sustainable manufacturing pillar, which was established to support the industry in reducing the environmental impact (see: waste) from the UK's production processes.
'We know that brands and retailers are increasingly looking into local manufacturing solutions,' Mansell said. 'And UK manufacturers are exploring ways to expand production and increase capacity.'
