New Paper Calls for Urgent Action to Safeguard UK Fashion Manufacturing

The future of UK fashion manufacturing has once again been thrust into the spotlight following Saeed Khilji’s powerful Channel 4 appearance and widely shared LinkedIn post, The Silent Collapse of UK Fashion Manufacturing. As Chair of the Textile Manufacturing Association of Leicestershire, Khilji has become a leading voice highlighting the mounting pressures facing British garment manufacturers – from rising energy costs and inflation to shrinking retail orders and the loss of skilled businesses across the sector.

Building on this message, a new companion paper by Alan Michael Percy, Stargate AI Ltd, London, offers a practical roadmap for recovery. Prepared on 19th July 2026, the paper supports Khilji’s call for change while exploring how existing public investment in the fashion industry could be better directed towards strengthening the UK’s manufacturing base.

Rather than arguing for additional funding, the report makes the case for a strategic rebalancing of investment. It suggests that while substantial resources continue to support design, education, talent development and fashion promotion, insufficient investment is reaching the manufacturers responsible for turning creative ideas into commercially viable products. Without a thriving domestic manufacturing sector, the paper argues, the long-term value of these upstream investments is significantly diminished.

The report presents a compelling argument that Britain’s fashion industry should not only be recognised for its creativity but also for its ability to manufacture high-quality products domestically. It outlines practical policy recommendations focused on skills development, factory modernisation, digitalisation, apprenticeships and sustainable production, all aimed at securing the future of UK garment manufacturing.

FashionCapital is pleased to share this important paper with our readers. Whether you are a designer, manufacturer, educator, policymaker or fashion business, the report provides valuable insight into the challenges facing UK production today and the opportunities that still exist to rebuild a stronger, more resilient manufacturing sector.

To read the full paper download this PDF link