We are delighted to share with you some of the exciting updates and achievements from Q3 2023 that highlight the continued growth and progress of UKFT.

UKFT Q3 2023 REPORT

First and foremost, our membership continues to expand, which is a real testament to the strength and vitality of our industry. We offer a warm welcome to all our new members and extend our thanks to our longstanding members for their ongoing support.

We have recently introduced resources and initiatives such as new documents offering advice and guidance on everything from IP support in China to regulations such as the EU deforestation and forest degradation, as well as trade agreements with Australia, New Zealand and the CPTPP. We are committed to promoting the strengths of our industry, and through various channels, we will continue to share the latest updates, trends and insights relevant to the UK fashion and textile sector.

One of our primary goals is to bring members together and foster connections within our community. This quarter, we’ve worked hard to establish closer working relationships between our education partners and the wider industry. In July, we hosted two UKFT Education Partner Network meetings, catering to both higher education and further education institutions, as well as private training providers. We’ve also been continuing to underscore the importance of vocational qualifications as we navigate a changing skills landscape.

We’re actively promoting opportunities in our sector at nationwide career events and supporting a bursary scheme for the new Textile Innovation and Sustainability BSc at the University of Leeds. We are committed to nurturing the next generation of talent and ensuring they have the resources they need to thrive.

Our MADE IT 22/23 project is in its final phase, offering design students valuable insights into the UK manufacturing industry through paid production internships with UK manufacturers. Additionally, we manage the Drapers x UKFT Bursary scheme to financially support students undertaking internships as they embark on careers to open access to these opportunities to a wider pool of talent. In a bid to make more impact on training skilled textile leaders of the future, we have extended the age limit of the Young Textile Technician Fund.

We also take pride in celebrating the UK textile industry and showcasing its excellence, which often gets overlooked. In partnership with the V&A, we organised an event alongside the Chanel exhibition, providing a platform to highlight our industry’s craftsmanship and creativity.

Internationally, we are dedicated to supporting UK brands at overseas tradeshows and events, including key gatherings such as Pitti Uomo, Paris Men’s Fashion Week, Première Vision, Milano Unica, Chicago Men’s Collective and Paris Fashion Week. These events help us shine a light on the UK fashion and textile industry on a global stage.

Finally, sustainability and innovation are now on the forefront of our agenda and we’re actively involved in a number of large-scale innovation projects aimed at addressing some of the industry’s most significant challenges.

We recently held a successful second Sustainability in UK Textiles conference, offering practical guidance and advice on how to improve performance, measure and monitor progress and communicate environmental credentials. We are excited to launch the first of our UKFT Sustainability 101 series for UK textile manufacturers which covers standards and certification.

Read the full report to find out more about some of these initiatives that we believe will shape our industry’s future and let us know how we can help you. For any questions, please contact info@ukft.org

UKFT Q3 2023 REPORT