“There’s nothing faster than UK sourcing” – Nick Beighton at Source Fashion

Fashion brands and retailers could explore three trade events within one location as Pure London, Just Around the Corner (JATC) and Source Fashion took place at London’s Olympia from 14th-16th July.

Fashion-Enter Ltd’s CEO Jenny Holloway was particularly adamant to attend Source Fashion as the show exhibits and supports manufacturers from around the globe; from raw materials, fabrics, trims, packaging to in-house design and manufacturing services. Source Fashion also hosts informative talks from industry experts and presents core trends coming through for 2025 on the Source Fashion catwalk.

Suzanne Ellingham, Event Director of Source Fashion said: “The recurring theme throughout is that collaboration, the sharing of best practice, education, and storytelling are key to achieving a better fashion industry. 

“There is a need and desire to do much better business and with new legislation and the opportunity to hold open conversations I feel pretty positive that these changes are more and more likely. I’m excited by the interest our visitors have in listening and learning, we are creating an ecosystem at the show where the industry can meet and discuss the big issues as well as the success stories in a safe space.” 

For Jenny the talk between fashion activist Caryn Franklin MBE in conversation with former-CEO of ASOS Nick Beighton was particularly honest and enlightening. 

When Nick was asked what he thought about the popular cheap brand Shein he said: “With Shein there’s something to be marvelled and something to be terrified about, and I oscillate between both. Some of the aspects of their business I think is genius but some of the standards are, with how they are producing garments, their lack of transparency, their renowned opaqueness, makes me extremely nervous. I know they are running through a number of tax loopholes that none of our manufacturers here are able to do, and I think that’s wrong.”

Asked how to educate shareholders out of profit greed, Nick responded: “I’m an unashamed capitalist but capitalism creates problems and issues. Conscious capitalism overall gets better results. I reconcile it with creating a purpose for a brand. Purpose should drive profit, not profit driving purpose. We can use capitalism to change the agenda and future-proof business. It can enrich and change the ecosystem.”

Pressed on the subject of de-growth and the idea that we need to produce less, Beighton responded saying: “I don’t think we should make less, I think we should make better. Make garments in a transparent way where you know where the materials are grown, you know the conditions of the factory. Imagine the farm and factory had glass walls – if you could see everything going on in there would you still want that garment?”

He added: “There is no competitive advantage to abusing the planet. We need to collaborate for better solutions on everything from packaging to plastics.” Caryn invited Nick to comment on proximity sourcing, he said: “The P&L works, the agility works, there’s nothing faster than UK sourcing. It’s very important to the future of fashion to encourage more craft in the UK.”

FEL CEO Jenny Holloway comments: “It was great to visit Source London and see Nick Beighton on the stage with Caryn Franklin, and also to hear from Joanna Mourant, Head of Product Legislation and Sustainability at Next. Exhibitors at the event said that Sunday was a busy day; so pleased for the businesses on the stands. 

“The questions asked by Caryn Franklin were quite controversial and probing but it was a very interesting conversation that lasted a full 40 minutes. There was a stream of people wanting to speak with Nick afterwards. 

Following on Joanna Mourant, Head of Product Legislation and Sustainability at Next shared the retailer’s responsible sourcing journey and discussed the challenges and opportunities facing the business and the industry at large. Next has set responsible sourcing 2025 goals and works closely with the Next buying team and the teams around them to inform and support on sourcing better materials and products that will help to reduce impact.

Jenny continues: “I found the words from Joanna quite enlightening and it’s great to see there is emphasis on true sustainability. We had a conversation afterwards and we are looking at repairs and reworking old stock, this will be really exciting for the future and a real commitment to making in the UK.”