“2025 did not constitute a transition year. It constituted a consolidation of narrative capability”.

“The system became better at explaining why change was underway, better at projecting inevitability, and better at managing contradiction. It did not become better at altering fibre composition, reducing throughput, or decarbonising production at scale.”

Shivam Gusain - Founder at Decypher

What work was actually done and what work was not?

“Brands need to do the work that actually reduces emissions rather than the work they find interesting, exciting or convenient. Do the work that matters. Fix the processes that carry the load. Touch the machinery you have spent years avoiding.”

Shivam Gusain - Founder at Decypher

Discover how natural fibres, living materials, and craft innovation are creating healthier homes whilst eliminating toxic chemicals from interior design.

At the recent Future Fabrics Expo panel discussion, moderated by Carole Annet from Country and Town House, leading voices in sustainable design revealed how innovative materials and renewed craftsmanship are transforming home furnishings.

Waste is still too often treated as a matter of what happens at the end of the value chain, as though the real problem begins only once a garment is unsold or discarded.

In reality, the damage is already baked in much earlier. If one fifth of production volume is destined never to reach a consumer, then one fifth of all the energy, water, chemistry, and labour that went into that production is squandered the moment the order is placed.

Shivam Gusain - Founder at Decypher

By bringing manufacturing closer to home, brands can respond to trends in real-time, drastically improve their sell-through rates, and operate with a far lighter environmental touch. CreateMe’s approach aligns perfectly with the macro trend towards distributed, on-demand production, offering a blueprint for a more agile, efficient, and sustainable future.

The technologies and innovations showcased in recent product launches via Texintel represent more than incremental improvements—they constitute a fundamental reimagining of how textile manufacturing can and should operate.

Transforming Textiles: What began as a digital transformation driven by consumer demands for personalisation and shorter lead times has evolved into a fundamental restructuring of how printed textiles are conceived, designed, and manufactured. As we advance towards 2026, digital textile printing has emerged as the cornerstone of a new manufacturing paradigm that prioritises sustainability, efficiency, and technological integration.

The question facing every textile printing business today isn't whether to adopt AI, but how quickly and strategically they can transform their operations to capture its full potential.

"The real opportunity lies in what industry experts call "AI-powered strategic thinking"—using artificial intelligence not just to do things faster, but to fundamentally reimagine how your business operates, creates value, and serves customers” - Debbie McKeegan | Texintel

Fashion needs a Reinvention and a Restructure of existing Supply Chains.

“The most successful companies will likely be those that combine technological sophistication with values-driven partnerships, geographic diversification with local expertise, and operational efficiency with environmental responsibility. As these industry leaders demonstrate, the future belongs to organisations that can navigate complexity whilst maintaining focus on long-term value creation...”

"Traditional supply chain factories try to do a plug and play, and it doesn't necessarily work." Joey Pringle - Vision Factory

This research, once again highlights an urgent need for a fundamental re-evaluation of the fashion supply chain's cost analysis.

The focus must shift from short-term cost savings to long-term sustainability and value creation. Investing in higher-quality materials and improved manufacturing practices will not only enhance garment durability but also enable true circularity, reducing environmental impact and waste. These changes will pave the way for a more responsible and future-proof textile industry.

Amidst mounting regulatory pressures and increasing consumer demands for transparency, many manufacturers view compliance as a burden. Yet a closer examination reveals something far more significant: a once-in-a-generation opportunity to transform how we produce, trade, and consume textiles.

The future belongs to those who transform compliance into competitive advantage, turning regulatory requirements into roadmaps for sustainable success.

“Everything that isn’t made by nature has been designed. That means design holds immense power—not only in shaping the crises we face but also in solving them.”

These are the words of Cat Drew, Chief Design Officer at the Design Council, and they couldn’t ring truer in 2025.

The Growth Trap: Why Bigger Doesn’t Always mean Better

“The Fashion industry's obsession with volume has created a dangerous pattern. Companies chase growth through increased production, lower prices, and expanded market presence—often at the expense of profitability”.

Source Fashion, London - Simon Platts, founder of SP&KO Consultancy and former Director of Responsible Sourcing at ASOS

Barriers and Bridges: Key Insights from the Global Fashion Summit 2025

"The Summit set the stage with sobering statistics about climate change. With 150 extreme weather events in 2024 affecting 3.6 billion people globally, the urgency for sustainable practices couldn’t be more critical. Fashion’s role in this crisis is profound, from its resource-intensive production processes to its rapid consumption cycles." says Debbie McKeegan, FESPA Textile Ambassador.

There is no need to enforce behavioural change. There is no need to ban high-emitting activities or impose immediate penalties. The act of disclosure alone begins to shift the terrain. Because this is not a symbolic gesture. It is a new lens on value itself.

By forcing carbon risk into the structure of reported profit, this approach does what sustainability pledges never could.

Shivam Gusain - Founder at Decypher

“Responsibly sourced and sustainable materials remain in short supply globally, and the textile industry cannot yet generate (or recycle) the volume required by the global supply chain across multiple market sectors. Whilst the fashion Industry is often in the spotlight, all textiles must become circular in the long term.” Debbie McKeegan - FESPA Textile Ambassador

“The not so green iceberg continues to emerge as companies across the entire textile space push forward to set and or achieve sustainability objectives, all of whom are desperately trying to bring themselves into line with the growing expectations of their client base. Some have faired better than others. In recent weeks the HIGG Index has come into focus, as have the dubious claims of many of the behemoth fashion brands, many of whom now find themselves under an uncomfortable spotlight.” Read more >>