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In an exclusive salon interview with Just Style, he said: “Sustainability means so many things to so many people. Our purpose is to bring brands from all over the world to the fair. All exhibitors are audited and we collaborate a lot with foreign governments, such as China, to locate the most productive brands that do the right thing. “
The Responsible Sourcing Program, he adds, caters to stores and shoppers looking to get better products that come in a more culpable way and is also a way to help brands that have struggled during the Covid years, such as Bangladesh, Pakistan and Madagascar. .
She emphasizes, “Responsible sourcing is not just about large-scale brands that produce responsibly. It’s about how we can small brands that can produce something special that belongs to their creators. Source’s exhibitors make up more than 20 countries, each showcasing its unique story and playing a vital role in advancing the industry.
Ellingham also shows that the exhibit has already gained a backlash with attendance from stores ranging from Harrods and John Lewis to Bella Freud and Burberry. She explains: “We bring brands and buyers together, but we also create a sustainable seminar programme. It is at the forefront of the industry and covers debatable tropics. This means that Source Fashion can be used to animate a verbal exchange – we decided to work with other people who have attractive things to say.
During the sessions, British fashion designer Alice Temperley talked about the effect of Brexit and how she uses fabrics for her designs. In addition, he presented a catwalk to give life to the clothes of the brands, each telling its own story. history.
In terms of trends in the Responsible Fashion Sourcing program, Ellingham highlights the smart quality of Global Organic Textile Standard (GOTS)-qualified cotton and states that the fabrics are soft.
Manufacturers in Peru were also in full force with their full-screen Pima cotton and Ellingham explains that the overall theme of the display is that all brands make sure their fabrics come from one place.
She points out that the fashion industry in general and apparel production in particular is a difficult industry to integrate at the moment, as overstock at the point of sale means that the duration of production orders remains a challenge.
However, she is confident that if clothing brands can find the right people to work with, they will thrive.
She says, “Not every brand can position a small series of ten orders, so we have a duty to dress brands with smart practices to locate brands and stores that need to work with them. “
He also argues that if brands and stores need garments to be produced satisfactorily, they will have to pay more for them, adding: “The UK garment industry, for example, never competes for value; It’s about craftsmanship and understanding where they can win.
Ellingham explains that the strong ethics of duty of the exhibition organizers does not end when the exhibition closes.
In fact, the company conducts a marketing crusade called Power of One, which explains how a small update can make a collective difference.
She says: “Consumers don’t have to wash their clothes all the time, and by reducing the amount of washing, you reduce contaminants from microfibres and it is a clever example of how positive substitution wants to take place at the customer level.
Ellingham is overwhelmingly positive about Source Fashion’s inaugural exhibition, explaining, “We knew it would get a positive reaction from shoppers and retailers. This is one of the first corporate launches in a long time and we know it’s going to grow because it’s about connecting shoppers in the chain of origin with larger apparel brands in the chain of origin.
The next Source Fashion exhibition will take place from 16 to 18 July 2023 and Ellingham will feature a giant Pakistani-made pavilion aimed at sports leisure.
In addition, the organisers will work on a 3-year programme on women in e-commerce with 3 merchants from Bangladesh and the concept is for them to market themselves in the UK market.
She says it’s wonderful to see small brands coming, not just the bigger ones, the show is also about helping and selling positive systems that give back to the community, like the Nepalese Helping Hands initiative, which looks for brands. and stores that need to place orders from women with disabilities and former victims of trafficking who are able and willing to make clothes. of their homes.