Onshoring the UK Fashion and Textiles Industry Put Forward for Debate in Parliament

On 28th October, MP Catherine West put forward a formal request for a debate in the Houses of Parliament on onshoring in the fashion and textiles industry, highlighting the sector’s vital role in creating jobs, developing skills, and driving economic prosperity across the UK.

Speaking to Mr. Blackman and the Backbench Business Committee, West outlined the importance of bringing manufacturing back home:

“Mr Blackman the theme for this debate is onshoring in the fashion and textiles industry for jobs, skills and prosperity and the answering department would likely be the department for business and trade.

“The rapid rise of fast fashion has encouraged outsourcing and offshoring but growing awareness of environmental and social costs in fashion has sparked a revival in the UK industry. Today the government has the chance to support slow, ethical fashion and invest in homegrown talent and skills.

“Fashion and textile manufacturing in Britain could be a key driver of economic growth and onshoring and could possibly unlock 3.1 billon in GDP, 64 thousand new jobs and 1.2 billion in tax receipts according to the UK Fashion and Textile Association.

“For example, military uniforms, Britain is a global leader in camouflage fabric production, yet the vast majority of uniforms are manufactured abroad. There is no up-to-date information available on this issue, but as of 2013 just 6% of the UK’s military uniforms were made in the UK. The procurement act of 2023 enables public bodies to prioritise ethical sourcing and local manufacturing.

“Mr Blackman I have the support of 10 other MP’s with an even split between the government and the opposition.”

Mr. Blackman responded by commending the submission, describing it as “a very comprehensive application” and confirming that “the clerks will be in touch in due course.”

Catherine West’s call for debate comes at a crucial moment for the UK’s fashion and textile manufacturing industry, which has been steadily regaining strength after decades of offshoring. The sector is increasingly recognised not only for its cultural and creative value but also for its potential to boost the economy, create high-quality jobs, and reduce environmental impact through shorter supply chains and ethical production practices.

With sustainability and resilience now central to global supply discussions, onshoring offers a real opportunity for the UK to lead in ethical, innovative fashion production. From advanced textile technologies to skilled craftsmanship, the nation’s manufacturing base has the potential to drive both economic and environmental progress.

The proposed parliamentary debate represents an important step toward ensuring that government policy supports this revival – encouraging investment, education, and procurement strategies that prioritise UK-based production.

The fashion and textile industry must now continue to build on this momentum, engaging policymakers, businesses, and the public to ensure that onshoring and British manufacturing are firmly placed at the top of the national agenda. This is an agenda that Fashion-Enter Ltd and the Apparel and Textile Manufacturers Federation has been pushing for and we thank Catherine West for putting this forward for debate, the UK has so much to offer in this sector. More on this in due course.