5 Days To Go! Manchester Made & Regions 2026 – Meet, Hear, Discuss and Network

Next Wednesday 4th November, the UK fashion and textile manufacturing industry comes together at Manchester Hall for an important day of discussion, business connections and action. Are you ready to be part of Britain’s manufacturing future?

The countdown is on! The Fashion-Enter Ltd (FEL) team has been working tirelessly behind the scenes, alongside Source Fashion and the Apparel & Textile Manufacturers Federation (ATMF), to make Manchester Made & Regions 2026 a must-attend event for British manufacturing.

Building on the success of Leicester Made & Regions, this next regional gathering brings together UK manufacturers, brands, retailers, buyers, sourcing professionals and industry leaders to explore one crucial question: What will it take to make UK production work commercially for more brands and retailers? And the message from the industry is encouraging: UK manufacturing is firmly back on the radar!

Developed collaboratively with Source Fashion, the event has already secured significant engagement from buying and sourcing teams representing leading brands.

Retailers are showing growing interest in UK-made capsule collections, shorter production runs and more responsive supply chains. For manufacturers, this represents a real opportunity to showcase capabilities, meet potential customers and open doors to new commercial contracts. From made-to-demand production and transparent supply chains to speed, flexibility and quality, British factories have an important role to play in the future of fashion.

A Programme Packed with Industry Leaders

The day will feature an impressive line-up of speakers, including Patrick Grant, CEO of Community Clothing, alongside manufacturers, retailers, industry organisations and leading market intelligence experts.

The programme opens with What Will It Take? Reindustrialisation of the UK, moderated by Jenny Holloway, CEO of Fashion-Enter Ltd. The discussion will explore how government, brands and retailers can turn ambitions around on-shoring and public procurement into meaningful orders for British factories.

Patrick Grant will then share his experience in Building a Brand Using British Manufacturing and Making It Really Work, challenging the perception that British-made fashion cannot be commercially successful.

Other key discussions include:

• Harnessing Local Capabilities: How regional manufacturing ecosystems can become more visible, competitive and resilient.
• Busting Myths Around UK Manufacturing: Tackling the realities of costs, margins, minimum order quantities, lead times and supplier relationships.
• Fewer, Better, Closer: Euromonitor International’s Marguerite Le Rolland explores changing European fashion demand and its implications for sourcing.
• The Only Trend That Matters: Durability and Longevity: Insider Trends’ Jack Stratten examines why quality, trust and products designed to last are increasingly important.
• The Real Blocker? Building the Business Case for UK Manufacturing That a CFO Supports: Exploring how domestic production can deliver value through risk mitigation, resilience and long-term commercial growth.

There is even more reason to join us. Major announcements will be made during the event, with European journalists attending to cover these special addresses.

Manufacturers and industry organisations from Manchester and across the UK will also have the opportunity to showcase their services and capabilities, meet buyers and explore new production partnerships.

Dedicated networking opportunities, including networking drinks at the close of the day, will provide further time to make connections and turn conversations into business opportunities.

Manchester Made & Regions is an opportunity to bring the industry together, challenge outdated perceptions, identify barriers and build practical solutions for the future of British manufacturing.

Suzanne Ellingham, Event Director of Source Fashion, said: “There is a lot of conversation about reshoring and buying British, but if we genuinely want to see more production taking place here, we have to move beyond ambition and build the commercial case for it. That means addressing the realities of cost, capacity and lead times, while recognising the value UK manufacturing can offer through speed, flexibility, quality and resilience. Manchester Made & Regions brings manufacturers, brands, retailers and industry leaders together to examine what is standing in the way and what needs to change. From reindustrialisation and public procurement to changing consumer demand and the business case for sourcing closer to home, our focus is on practical solutions that can turn growing interest in British manufacturing into meaningful commercial action.”

Manchester is the first stop in a wider programme of regional activity, with the conversation continuing at Source Fashion at Excel London, 19–21 January 2027.

Next Wednesday 4th November 2026 – Manchester Made & Regions at Manchester Hall

Free registration is available via Eventbrite: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/manchester-made-regions-tickets-2002219435229

Meet. Hear. Discuss. Network.

If you manufacture in the UK, buy for a brand, influence sourcing decisions or believe in the future of British production, this is where you need to be.

Don’t miss it. Let’s make British manufacturing happen!