DrapersOnline: Jenny Holloway Urges Fashion Industry to take a Fresh Look at Leicester Manufacturing

Fashion-Enter Ltd (FEL) CEO Jenny Holloway, who also serves as Chair of the Apparel & Textile Manufacturers Federation (ATMF), has featured in Drapers calling on the fashion industry to move beyond historic allegations surrounding Leicester’s garment sector and recognise the significant progress made over the past six years.

Writing in Drapers on 29th July 2026, Jenny responded to reports regarding new legal claims brought against Debenhams Group, formerly Boohoo Group, relating to historic issues within Leicester’s supply chain.

As Chair of the ATMF, Jenny stressed that the allegations relate to events from several years ago.

“The key word is ‘historic’,” she said, questioning why legal action is emerging almost six years after the extensive scrutiny of Leicester’s garment industry in 2020.

Jenny also noted that several claimants have withdrawn from the legal proceedings, with the remaining claimants comprising institutional investors from South Korea, the Netherlands and the United States.

She further highlighted the findings of Operation Tacit, published by the Department for Business and Trade in November 2025, which concluded that while breaches relating to minimum wage and health and safety were identified, there was no formal evidence of modern slavery. The report also found that Leicester’s manufacturing sector was neither significantly better nor worse than comparable UK manufacturing regions or other industries.

For Jenny, these findings reinforce the importance of recognising the transformation that has taken place across the city’s manufacturing base.

Launched in 2022, the Apparel & Textile Manufacturers Federation was established to revive Leicester’s historic textile and garment manufacturing industry while promoting ethical production, transparency and sustainable growth. Since its formation, the federation has worked closely with manufacturers, brands, educators and government to rebuild confidence in UK apparel production.

One of its latest initiatives is In Factories We Trust, a not-for-profit, TrustATrader-style digital platform launched in May 2026 by the ATMF alongside Fashion-Enter Ltd, Fashion Roundtable and De Montfort University. The website is being created to make it easier for brands and buyers to identify transparent, ethical UK manufacturers with verified credentials.

The federation is also expanding the reach of its successful Leicester Made & Regions event. This autumn, Leicester Made & Regions will travel to Manchester in partnership with Source Fashion, introducing more brands and retailers to UK manufacturers committed to responsible production.

“We are cantering on with our new website In Factories We Trust and taking the successful Leicester Made & Regions on a road trip to Manchester in October with Source Fashion,” Jenny wrote. “We are working on the ground and we know our members.”

Since the events of 2020, Holloway says ATMF members have invested significantly in improving standards, strengthening compliance and rebuilding confidence in UK garment manufacturing.

“We have bids in for public procurement for these factories and they are fully transparent and ethical – you can’t tar an entire industry by a few rogue factories that have long closed down,” she said.

“Our members operate responsibly, pay workers fairly, invest in skills and sustainability, and produce high-quality UK manufacturing.”

The ATMF continues to advocate for a level playing field across the garment manufacturing sector, encouraging shared responsibility between government procurement agencies, brands, retailers and suppliers to ensure ethical and transparent supply chains.

The federation’s work is already attracting renewed interest from major retailers. Holloway revealed that only last week a leading retailer visited Leicester to tour ten ATMF member factories, providing positive feedback on product quality, manufacturing capability and the businesses’ ambition for future growth.

While the ATMF cannot comment on the specifics of the ongoing legal proceedings, Holloway believes they serve as a reminder that transparency, due diligence and responsible sourcing remain fundamental to the future of fashion manufacturing.

However, she argues that the conversation should now reflect the reality of today’s Leicester manufacturing sector, rather than the narrative of six years ago.

As the UK fashion industry continues to evolve, collaboration between manufacturers, brands, educators and policymakers will be essential in building a resilient, competitive and ethical domestic supply chain.

Jenny’s message is clear: “It’s time to take a new look at Leicester and stop the old rhetoric.”

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