UKFT will discuss how the fashion industry, which relies on consumption and novelty, can become sustainable while remaining commercial, as part of Expo 2020 in Dubai.

The events, which include a showcase, fashion show, panel sessions, podcast and on-presentation, start today and run until 27 October.

UKFT CEO Adam Mansell will chair a session entitled ‘do we really care about who makes our clothes?’ alongside Caroline Rush CBE, Chief Executive, British Fashion Council; Julien McDonald, Fashion Designer; Fahed Ghanim, CEO, Lifestyle and Fashion, Majid Al Futtaim; Professor Carolyn Hardaker, Professor of Learning and Teaching, Head of School of Fashion and Textiles, De Montfort University; Fiona Gooch, Senior Private Sector Policy Adviser, Traidcraft and Professor Sheila Carruthers, Honorary Professor of Design at Heriot Watt University, School of Textiles and Design.

The panel will discuss the big questions around what needs to be done to minimise the social and environmental impact when it comes to making our clothes. What are the tools being developed to help consumers change their behaviour when purchasing in a store or online, and how is the industry addressing the circular economy through developing new business models for fast fashion based around ‘buy and make’?

You can register to watch any of the panel discussions at the summit here.

Topics to be covered as part of the entire event include:

• Climate change, sustainability and waste
• The impact of technology on the sourcing, design, manufacture and supply of clothes
• The retail experience of the future
• Social responsibility and ethical fashion
• Consumer trends and brands of the future

Global questions the programme will explore include:

• Do we really care about who makes our clothes?
• Can we deliver a circular business model for fashion?
• How do we ensure that the clothes of the future are ethically sourced and created?
• What will the consumer want from their clothing in the future?
• What impact will technology have on the future of fashion?

FIND THE FULL SCHEDULE HERE

Innovation, R&D and sustainability is a key pillar of UKFT’s activity. Find out more about some of the projects UKFT is working on to help the UK industry take full advantage of these new technologies and markets and to help change the future landscape of the textile industry in the UK into one where circularity and environmentally sustainable supply chains are the new normal. Read more here.