UKFT will continue to work closely with the apparel industry to help companies grow their exports to the EU and the rest of the world.

The organisation will undertake a new project to promote the fantastic capabilities of UK textile manufacturers at the key textile trade shows of Première Vision, Milano Unica and Intertextile Shanghai.

Through membership, UKFT offers one-to-one assistance with business plans and strategies, market trends, HR and employment advice, marketing and PR, logistics, IP protection, labelling, standards, range planning and pricing, and more.

This year the group will also the launch of a range of new UKFT membership benefits including exclusive discounts and deals on everything from insurance, foreign exchange andcrowdfunding. 

The UKFT seminar programme will start again in the spring and will feature topics such as access to finance, e-commerce, social media, practical exporting, sustainability and care labelling. And this year will see UKFT develop a range of online seminars to ensure companies across the country can access information to help their businesses grow.

There will also be launching of Scottish Fashion & Textiles Export Strategy and a Scottish Skills Strategy this year, together with an increased focus on innovation. We will also continue to develop our work in Wales and Northern Ireland helping to maintain UKFT’s position as the largest network of fashion and textile businesses in the UK.

To ensure new businesses can enter, grow and thrive within the industry, UK Fashion is relaunching UKFT Rise this month as a supportive community for UK fashion and textile entrepreneurs who have been in the business less than three years. The first event is on 30 January in London