UK sustainable materials trade show Future Fabrics Expo marked its 10th edition this week in its largest venue to date. The event, organized by not-for-profit The Sustainable Angle, took place on June 28 and 29 in the UK capital and showcased 10,000 textiles from over 220 suppliers, making it the largest dedicated showcase of sustainable materials for fashion and textiles in Europe.
Future Fabrics Expo launched in 2011. While still the only event of its kind and size at the time, it offered just 400 textiles from 53 suppliers. It then moved to have its area at a larger trade show before growing big enough to have its own independent space. In a few years, it outgrew that space, causing its latest move. The fashion and textiles supply chains are long and complex, incorporating many activities, challenges, and potential areas to improve environmental and social impact. Globally recognized certifications are one way to assess and monitor the impact on the supply chain. The Sustainable Angle has developed a set of sustainability criteria against which we assess the impact of each fabric.
There is no need to wait until the next Future Fabrics Expo showcase to discover new sustainable fabrics and mills. The Future Fabrics Virtual Expo is the online destination to discover a curated range of sustainable fabrics and key information regarding sustainability issues in the textile industry, rigorously researched by The Sustainable Angle.
The Sustainable Angle set up the Future Fabrics Virtual Expo to extend the lifespan of the Future Fabrics Expo so that those interested in remote sourcing can access sustainable and innovative fabrics and materials. This online tool aims to introduce fabrics buyers and designers to international mills and suppliers of sustainable textiles, allowing constant access to product and sustainability-focused information about fabrics with a reduced environmental impact, anytime, anywhere.
