The Great British Sewing Shortage

Experts are hoping that the growing popularity of Second hand September and the BBC TV Show The Great British Sewing Bee, which has been attracting millions of viewers, can help avoid a supply chain crisis by driving interest in sewing.

There are growing concerns that the booming popularity of pre-loved clothing is rapidly outpacing the UK’s sewing machinists, risking a skills shortage that could prove a major headache for shoppers, retailers and sustainability. 

The most recent government data shows just 130 people have started the Level 2 Sewing Machinist Apprenticeship since it was introduced in 2018. Such low numbers are in stark contrast to the mammoth growth of the secondhand goods market, which is expected to triple in size across Europe to £86billion in the next 10 years.

John West, Director of Skills and Training at the UKFT (UK Fashion and Textile Association), said: “It was predicted that 450 apprentices would have started the Level 2 Sewing Machinist Apprenticeship in its first year in England, with 400 apprentices starting every year after that. The actual numbers fall way short of this, which is a real problem. British manufacturers are keen to bring clothing and textile production back from overseas to make supply chains shorter and more sustainable. At the same time, there’s a fast-growing market for restored second-hand clothing.”

With huge consumer appetite for pre-loved fashions and accessories, major brands and retailers are jumping on board. Shoppers can now snap up used goods at the likes of John Lewis, H&M and Selfridges – a trend that’s creating growing demand for sewing machinists. 

“The fashion industry and retail supply chains will desperately need people who can restore clothing,” said Andrew Hill, a Director at retail logistics company Advanced Supply Chain (ASC). 

“Pre-loved clothing isn’t meant to be perfect but often requires repair and restoration work to make goods resellable. Rips and seams might need stitching, zips sewing or patches adding. This requires trained sewing machinists and there’s simply not enough available. As well as pre-loved, sewing machinists are crucial to helping restore products returned by shoppers, ensuring these are resold to avoid waste.”

The UKFT – the UK’s largest network for fashion and textiles – has helped increase funding for the delivery of sewing machinist apprenticeships in England. More recently, the organisation has responded to the Education Committee’s inquiry into further education, highlighting the critical skills crisis in the fashion and textile industry.

John West added: “The fashion and textiles manufacturing sector is heavily dependent on Skilled Operatives who make textile related items, and we are currently experiencing huge problems in filling roles such as sewing machinists.

“Fashion and textiles is under-represented in the National Curriculum, particularly before the age of 16. There’s simply not enough opportunity for young people who excel in hands-on work to develop their talents. Changing this could help tackle a stigma that’s holding back sewing skills and open up the industry to a new generation of talent. Programmes like The Great British Sewing Bee are great for encouraging people to think differently about sewing and the career opportunities it can offer.” 

(2025 Great British Sewing Bee contestants – Love Productions/ Neil Sherwood//BBC)

To support the industry, UKFT (as the Sector Skills Body for the fashion and textile industry) has developed an online course, written by industry for industry. ‘The Production Sewing Machinist Programme’ is a series of seven courses, including 48 lessons and over 100 activities that combine online and practical learning. https://ukftacademy.org/

Andrew Hill at ASC, concluded: “A shortage of sewing skills is a looming problem. More and more retailers want to compete with eBay and Vinted, attracting shoppers who like the bargains and sustainability of buying pre-loved. Demand for sewing machinists will increase and risks widening an already large skills gap. 

“The popularity of The Great British Sewing Bee is a welcome opportunity to place a positive spotlight on sewing skills. Skilled sewing machinists are crucial to helping create sustainable, circular supply chains.”

The final of the 2025 Great British Sewing Bee airs on Tuesday, September 16, 2025, at 9:00 PM on BBC One and BBC iPlayer. 

Fashion-Enter Ltd provides Level 1 and 2 Stitching and Pattern Cutting courses as well as apprenticeships at its Fashion Technology Academy campuses in Haringey, Islington and Leicester, visit https://fcfta.com/ to find out more.

For short 1 to 3 day stitching workshops and courses visit our eventbrite page