Leicester Made & Regions – 24th April 2026 – Full Agenda

The UK fashion and textiles industry will gather for a landmark event, Leicester Made & Regions 2026, taking place at The Venue at De Montfort University.

Organised by Fashion-Enter Ltd (FEL) and the Apparel and Textile Manufacturers Federation (ATMF), the one-day showcase will unite fashion and textile manufacturers, brands, designers, educators, innovators and policymakers from across the UK.

Leicester Made & Regions 2026 is designed to bring together diverse voices and expertise from across the country with a shared mission: To strengthen UK supply chains, celebrate regional craftsmanship, and accelerate the shift towards sustainable, onshore, and technology-driven fashion production.

With supply chain disruption, shipping pressures along with new transparency and EPR regulations reshaping the industry, UK manufacturing is seeing renewed opportunity – making this event a key event for collaboration and innovation.

Leicester Made & Regions Exhibition

The exhibition floor will feature leading garment manufacturers, textile suppliers, trim specialists, and technology providers, offering attendees the chance to:

• Discover UK-based production partners
• Explore the latest in manufacturing innovation
• Build resilient, localised supply chains

From heritage skills to cutting-edge technologies, the event highlights the full spectrum of British manufacturing capability.

Expert Speakers & Industry Insight Agenda:

9am – Breakfast Networking Courtesy of DMU

• Carolyn Hardaker, Head of School of Design Innovation, DMU
• Jenny Holloway, Fashion-Enter, CEO

10am – Introduction to Leicester Made & Regions

• Jenny Holloway, Fashion-Enter, CEO
• Peter Chandler, Director of Tourism Culture and Economy, Leicester City Council
• Elly Cutkelvin, Deputy City Mayor – Housing, Economy, and Neighbourhoods, Leicester City Council

10.15 am – ‘UK Manufacturing: Is Too Expensive – Or Is The Sourcing Model Broken?’

Moderator: Jill Geoghegan, Editor, Drapers

• Simon Platts, Co-Founder SP&KO Responsible Sourcing and ESG Fashion & Textiles consultancy
• Jenny Holloway, Chair, ATMF
• Snahal Patel, CEO, Foxes
• Jordan Razavi, CEO, Omnes
• Kirsty Connor, Head of Buying, Never Fully Dressed

This panel tackles one of the most pressing questions facing the industry, challenging perceptions around cost, sourcing and the future of UK production.

11.15am – ‘Beyond the Pilot: What It Takes to Embed Innovation’

Moderator: Kirsty McGregor, Journalist and consultant

• Dr Angela Davies, Associate professor textile and garment technology, DMU
• Elizabeth Brandwood, Head of UK Operations, Style3D | ASSYST
• Salli Deighton, CEO, LaundRE
• Shehzaad Valli, Nvcint (Manufacturer and ATMF Rep)
• Joe Darwen, CEO, CircKit®

Focusing on innovation in practice, this session explores how businesses can move from trial phases to fully embedded, scalable solutions.

1.45pm – ‘Legislation: The Policy That Will Break or Save Fashion’

Moderator: Jenny Holloway, Fashion-Enter, CEO

• Niall Maplesden, Director, The Knowledge Nexus
• Kevin Withane, Co-Founder and Corporate Partner, Impact Lawyers
• Tamara Cincik, CEO, Fashion Rountable
• Adam Mansell, CEO, UKFT
• Tejas, CEO, Shahtex
• Hannah Newcomb, Co-CEO, Stronger Together
• Samantha Ireland, Director of Strategy and Impact, Gangmasters and Labour Abuse Authority

With increasing regulatory pressure on the industry, this discussion examines the policies that will define the future of fashion.

2.45pm – ‘Sustainability: Responsibility & the Road Ahead’

Moderator: Hannah Abdulla, Editor, Just-Style

• Joseph Mountain, Sustainability Manager, Nbrown Group
• Shaunacy Burne, Corporate Donations Manager, Salvation Army Trading Company Ltd
• Garry Knox, Sustainability Director, GreenEarth Cleaning
• Reshma Desai, Global Project Director, UHUMANS 2050 & The Vayyu Foundation
• Richard-Jamie Olley, Ethix
• Tamara Sender Ceron, Associate Principal Fashion Retail Research, Mintel

This session brings together sustainability leaders to discuss practical pathways and long-term strategies for responsible fashion.

3.30am – Fireside Chat: Responsibility with Jenny Holloway and Suzanne Ellingham

• Jenny Holloway, Chair, ATMF
• Suzanne Ellingham, Director – Source Fashion, Hyve Group Ltd

Closing the day, this fireside chat offers an honest and insightful conversation on leadership, accountability and the road ahead for the industry.

Event Highlights In Brief:

• 9:00am – Doors Open & Breakfast Networking
  (Sponsored by De Montfort University)
• Morning Panel Discussions
• CEO Roundtable & Networking Lunch
• Afternoon Panels on Legislation & Sustainability
• 4pm – 7pm – Networking Drinks Reception
  (Sponsored by Source Fashion)

This project is part-funded by the UK Government through the UK Shared Prosperity Fund

Leicester Made and Regions is supported by:

• UK Shared Prosperity Fund
• The Garment Workers Trust
• Alvanon
• De Montford University
• Source Fashion
• Style3D
• ASBCI
• Fashion-Enter Ltd
• ATMF
• FashionCapital

Event Details: Leicester Made & Regions,

Friday 24th April 2026 from 09:00–19:00,

At The Venue@DMU, Leicester LE2 7BU.

To attend Leicester Made and Regions on Friday 24th April please register here