Source Fashion's Suzanne Ellingham on the show’s growth and the evolving priorities shaping global fashion supply chains

As Source Fashion prepares to open its doors at Olympia’s Grand Hall this July, the show continues to gain momentum as a leading platform for responsible sourcing in the fashion industry. Suzanne Ellingham, Sourcing Director at Source Fashion, discusses the show’s growth and the evolving priorities shaping global fashion supply chains.

Source Fashion has grown season on season and this July the show moves to Olympia’s Grand Hall. What do you think is driving this momentum, and what does it say about the industry’s appetite for responsible sourcing?

We’ve seen consistent growth with each edition of Source Fashion, and that momentum really stems from a clear and growing appetite for more responsible sourcing, and to do better business. The show was born out of conversations following COVID, when finding good, reliable factories became increasingly difficult.

What we’ve created is a show floor where every manufacturer is audited and safe to work with. That gives buyers confidence! It also allowed us to challenge traditional supply chain routes and open new opportunities.

Often, people assume that profit is the only priority for buyers. But we’ve found that if they can shift their spend toward suppliers who deliver social impact too, that’s something they genuinely want to do. Our growth shows just how strong that desire is across brands, retailers, and corporates alike.

At the heart of our growth is the trust buyers place in us. Whether it’s staying informed about trade schemes, exploring new business models, or discovering suppliers where their orders make a tangible difference, we’re helping them do more than just source products - we’re helping them buy better.

This edition brings together audited manufacturers from over 25 countries. What new global sourcing trends or regions are you particularly excited about this year?

Every season brings something new to the show floor, not always from entirely new regions, but often through the discovery of new factories and makers within familiar territories. One area that consistently excites me is our African pavilions. They always deliver high-quality, distinctive products, and thanks to the Developing Countries Trading Scheme, it’s become much more commercially viable for buyers to work with these regions.

Because we thoroughly audit all exhibitors, buyers know they’re dealing with reputable, safe businesses. When that’s combined with tax exemptions through trade schemes, the cost per buy becomes far more competitive—so it’s a win on both a financial and ethical level.

We’re also seeing a growing shift toward North Africa, particularly Egypt. With US trade tariffs sitting at just 10%, and Egypt’s proactive export policies, it’s drawing more interest from international buyers. Beyond that, we continue to showcase exceptional manufacturers from the UK, Portugal, and Italy.

Ultimately, it's the pursuit of newness, uniqueness, and strong social responsibility that drives excitement!

How are you balancing the mix between traditional manufacturing powerhouses like India and China with emerging markets and nearshoring opportunities?

It’s a complex balance. There’s been a lot of discussion, both in the media and within the industry, about reshoring and bringing production closer to home. While the intention is there, i suspect that businesses have maybe moved 10-15% of their buying closer to home as they balance their ranging

So for us, the focus is on ensuring that the manufacturers we bring from these regions are truly outstanding. For example finding factories that are running on solar power, or have excellent wastewater management as well as labour standards. . It’s about uncovering those high performing, often overlooked gems in these traditional manufacturing hubs.

At the same time, we’re committed to supporting emerging markets and nearshoring options, but only if those businesses can operate to the standards our buyers expect. That means they need to be commercially viable, audited, and capable of meeting rigorous procurement requirements.

Our role is to provide a balanced, credible mix, showcasing both innovation and responsibility, wherever it's found.

Source Fashion is known as a platform for content and thought leadership. Can you share some highlights from this summer’s agenda that buyers and brands shouldn’t miss?

One of the things im most proud of is that Source Fashion’s content platform is one that doesn’t shy away from the real conversations that we need to talk about.It often feels like progress toward the 2030 goals has stalled, that conversations around sustainability have been pushed to the sidelines.  . If we accept  that speed of change is being impacted by levels of risk and volatility, and the general tough business environment, then lets use our platform to bring that back into focus, highlighting not just opportunities but the barriers to change, and how we overcome them as a collective industry

Highlights include, Hash Ladha, former CEO of Jigsaw, who will share his insights on navigating leadership in an era defined by uncertainty. Marguerite LeRolland, Senior Global Insight Manager at Euromonitor International will break down the global forces behind price swings - and what they mean for sourcing strategy on the ground. Bay Garnett joins Lauretta Roberts, CEO and Editor-in-Chief of TheIndustry.fashion, to explore whether the explosion of second-hand marketplaces and rental platforms represents a lasting shift or passing trend and Visitors should also watch and take part in any of the debates, which will facilitate conversations on the most pressing and provocative topics facing our industry.

Your content theme highlights the industries struggles with volatility and pressure. How does Source Fashion help businesses navigate the current climate without losing sight of sustainability?

The reality is that most businesses, especially small and mid-sized ones, are in survival mode. They're navigating a tough landscape marked by inflation, supply chain disruptions, global conflicts, Brexit, and more. Transformation toward sustainable practices often takes a backseat because it’s costly, complex, and hard to prioritize when stability is uncertain.

That’s why our theme this season is centered around volatility as the new normal. We're asking: how can we help businesses manage risk in the same way large retailers do, so they’re not constantly on the back foot? Our content is designed to provide actionable knowledge and tools that help brands build resilience without losing sight of their sustainability goals.

It’s a brave conversation. It requires admitting that green goals may have slipped, but unless we’re honest about that, we can’t move forward. Source Fashion provides a space for that honesty, and from it, real progress can grow.

This edition sees a new partnership with Reskinned. What do you hope retailers take away from seeing pre-loved and restyled garments on the catwalk?

Each season, we collaborate with incredible designers who bring sustainability to life through creativity. In February, our collaboration with Stuart Trevor opened up a deeper conversation around textile waste and recycling. It helped us look beyond design alone and into the massive potential within deadstock and fashion waste. Our new partnership with Reskinned takes that idea even further.

We’re presenting a headline catwalk scene created entirely from secondhand and pre-loved garments, styled in line with 2026 trend forecasts. The goal is to show retailers that with some smart remanufacturing, or even just the right styling, existing garments can be transformed into something commercially viable again.

We know there are millions of unsold or unwanted garments sitting in warehouses across the UK. This initiative is about challenging the industry to think differently, about how we create newness, how we reduce waste, and how we unlock the value in what we already have. That shift in mindset could be game-changing for both sustainability and business.

The second new partnership with WRAP is long-term and includes Mark Sumner joining your advisory board, what are you hoping to achieve with this?

Our long-term content partnership with WRAP is designed to help cut through that confusion.  WRAP is a hugely important organisation helping the industry shift toward more ethical and responsible sourcing. By partnering with WRAP, and welcoming Mark Sumner to our advisory board, we’re using the Source Fashion platform to help disseminate critical information and support the businesses who genuinely want to drive positive change.

As we walk forward we will be sharing their insight through out platforms, Whether it’s identifying quick wins or better understanding upcoming regulations, the goal is to give brands and retailers the practical tools they need to move forward with confidence.

At its core, Source Fashion is a community. And this partnership gives us a powerful new way to support that community as it navigates a complex and evolving landscape.

Source Fashion has launched a new app, how does this shift the way buyers and suppliers interact at the show – and beyond it?

It might sound simple to say we’ve launched an app—but for us, it’s a big step in how we support our community. While many event apps focus purely on connecting visitors to exhibitors, we've gone further. For the first time, we’ve enabled visitors to connect with each other too, opening opportunities for networking, collaboration, and knowledge-sharing across the community.

We’ve also heavily invested in the app’s search capabilities. Every exhibitor’s manufacturing profile, along with their capabilities, is now at users’ fingertips. That means even months after the show, a buyer can log back in to find a factory in a specific region or revisit a contact they met on-site.

Over time, the app will become a living sourcing directory, with 200–300 new manufacturers added each season. Beyond just planning your visit, it's about staying connected and making sourcing simpler, smarter, and more collaborative - long after the doors to Olympia close.

And finally, for buyers or brands still debating whether to attend in July – what would you say to them? What’s the one thing they can’t afford to miss?

This show is designed for our community, why on earth would you want to miss it?

We’ve curated a high-quality, insight-driven content programme that’s completely free to attend. Beyond the content, if you work in buying, sourcing, procurement or tech, this show is part of your job. Why not save yourself a trip to Paris or China and do your discovery here in the UK?

Bring a colleague. Meet vetted manufacturers from across the world. Streamline your sourcing process. And most importantly, align internally, because we know that onboarding new suppliers often involves many different stakeholders. Source Fashion gives everyone a chance to come together, learn, and move faster toward shared business goals. And of course, once the work is done, join us for a drink at happy hour!

The best advice I ever heard about attending events was this: ‘If you walk away with just one great idea or lightbulb moment, it’s time well spent.’  I’ve never met anyone who disagrees with that, and Source Fashion is packed with opportunities to have those moments.

Source Fashion returns to Olympia London from 8–10 July 2025. Registration is now open at source-fashion.com.