UK Research and Innovation

The future of sourcing and circularity in the UK holds promise, contends a UKFT report that explores opportunities for growing domestic fashion manufacturing along with a comprehensive analysis of current sourcing trends as also future prospects for apparel manufacturing.

A new report examines the challenges and opportunities of integrating robotics and automation into UK manufacturing, offering targeted recommendations for the government and industry to modernise the sector and enhance workforce skills.

As the fashion industry increasingly recognises the urgent need for sustainable practices, the shift towards circular manufacturing for textiles and apparel has gained momentum. However, despite notable innovations and advancements, significant opportunities and enablers remain to promote widespread adoption. A UKFT report identifies key enablers necessary for further advancement and action forward for the manufacturing sector to accelerate circularity.

An £11 million funding in the UK will help develop clever robotic clothing which keeps people active and independent, addressing the needs of the country’s 6.7 million people with age or disability-related mobility issues.

Key industry stakeholders have launched the Circular Fashion Innovation Network (CFIN) for an action-led roadmap to accelerate the UK to a leading circular fashion economy.

A recent study has mapped material flows across London's fashion supply chain, identifying where carbon hotspots occur and shows that fashion makes a significant contribution to the city’s consumption-based emissions associated with the stuff are used.