Everyone is talking about sustainability but it can mean many different things to different businesses, markets and consumers. The global textile industry is often cited as one of the most polluting but we know that isn’t true for our industry here in the UK.

UKFT and The Textile Livery Group came together to create a unique event on 12 May 2022 to share best practice on sustainability within the UK textile industry and discuss how the sector can grow its capacity and capability, while remaining competitive.

Speakers from UK manufacturers, global brands and a variety of textile innovators shared experiences to help businesses and the wider industry to promote their own sustainable credentials.

On 12 May 2022 at Drapers Hall in London, we welcomed leaders from UK textile manufacturers to hear what sustainability means to various businesses and how they have started to address some of the challenges ahead, all with an emphasis on how the UK textile manufacturing industry can use sustainability to boost its competitiveness.

The conference featured speakers including:

• Anthony Burns, Chief Operating Officer at ACS Clothing
• Dax Lovegrove, Steering Committee member of the Institute for Positive Fashion
• Oscar Macdonald, Global Commercial Director at Alex Begg and Begg x Co
• Amanda McLaren, Managing Director at AW Hainsworth & Sons Ltd
• Natalie Jones, Sales & Marketing Manager at Humphries Weaving
• Paraskevi Fotoglou, Sustainability Engineer at Camira Fabrics
• Tim Clark, Technical Director of John Smedley
• Jo Dawson, Chairman at HD Wool
• Dr John Parkinson, Founder of iinouiio
• Megan Stoneburner, Fibre and Materials Director at Textile Exchange
• Professor Parik Goswami, Head of Department in Fashion and Textiles at the University of Huddersfield and Director of the Technical Textiles Research Centre
• Ian Maclean MBE, Managing Director of John Smedley
• Steve Russell, Professor of Textile Materials and Technology in the School of Design at the University of Leeds, Director of the Leeds Institute of Textiles and Colour (LITAC) and Future Fashion Factory