Pure Origin Launches Content-Rich Seminar Programme And Spotlights Future Trends

Image courtesy of Pure London

Manufacturing and supply chain expo, Pure Origin, taking place alongside Festival of Fashion Pure London on the 21st – 23rd July at Olympia London, has announced a line-up of leading experts and change-makers including Kerry Bannigan from Conscious Fashion Campaign United Nations, Adam Mansell from UKFT, and Rosie Terry senior designer from Urban Outfitters.

Designed to offer practical insights and solutions for the future of fashion manufacturing and sourcing, speakers will discuss the key issues facing fashion, how to avoid greenwashing, child labour, underpayment, modern slavery, poor working conditions and other ethical failures, as well as new innovations and transparency tech - the next fashion frontier.

 Pure Origin will also provide visitors with the most up-to-date trend analyses for future seasons.

The Origin Trend area has expanded and, using trend intelligence from Pure London’s official trend partner

Unique Style Platform, will spotlight the colours, fabrics and textures for AW20/21 encompassing the following four trends: 

HIBERNATE - Protective / Comfort / Cosy / Tactile / Incubate / Intimate / Super soft / Serene

ATTUNE - Reduced / Clean / Balanced / Natural / Warm / Essential / Function / Effortless

OPULENCE - Maximal luxury / More is more / Ceremonial / Abundant / Lavish / High shine / Excess

NU-TECH - Glow / Neon / Vibrant / Alert / Slick / Disrupt / Digital / Virtual / Odd / Luminous

Visitors will see the trends bought to life through a curated fabric display and through key looks created for the thrice daily Pure Origin catwalk shows.

 Kicking off the seminar programme on the dedicated Pure Origin stage on Sunday morning is panel discussion ‘Working with mills and factories: What do you need to know?’. Moderated by Adam Mansell, CEO of UKFT with knitwear designer Genevieve Sweeney and Simon Middleton of Blackshore clothing, the panel will offer a concise ‘Need to Know’ briefing to aid building relationships and embarking on fabric and factory sourcing journeys, focusing on sourcing from in-demand British businesses.

 Next, learn the ups and downs of a visible, high quality, but expensive supply chain. What are the advantages and disadvantages of operating so close to home?

Find out from the honest and frank case study presentation by Genevieve Sweeney. Owner of her eponymous brand, Genevieve has first hand knowledge of the role of Britishness in her brands desirability and the value it adds to her product.

She'll talk about marketing, messaging and sustainability and her experience that men are more interested in British-made knitwear than women.

 Visitors on Sunday will also hear from Lucy Murphy, Business Development Director at Shirley BTTG on  ‘Sustainable textile production with OEKO-TEX®: How environmentally responsible manufacturing across the globe paves the way towards a sustainable future for fashion.’ Fashion is one of the world’s most polluting industries. It consumes 31 billion litres of oil and 79 billion cubic litres of water and causes 20% of all freshwater pollution.

The UK purchased 1.13 million tonnes of clothing last year, 12.5 billion pounds worth of which was thrown away, totalling a shocking 300,000 tonnes of textiles in landfill.

Lucy will look at the problems and how the fashion industry is taking steps to ‘clean up’ the harmful environmental effects of manufacturing.

 On Sunday afternoon join the Circular Economy Briefing session to understand the next steps in making fashion circular from a technical and political perspective with Florent Chalot, Environmental engineer and partner of Mu Cooperative who will outline the four key principles of eco-design, how to be efficient, and how to avoid greenwashing.

 On Monday, Kerry Bannigan, Founder of Conscious Fashion Campaign kicks off with The Power of One mini-briefing. Pure London, guided by UN’s Global Goal 12 for Responsible Consumption and Production, has developed five easy-to-adopt pledges. Kerry explains the powerful steps that can be taken towards a sustainable future. 

 For an easy to follow guide to the steps brands can take to remove child labour, underpayment, modern slavery, poor working conditions and other ethical failures from their business from the most reliable certification to the simple checks to make, plus tips to dramatically reduce the likelihood of accidentally supporting unethical practices, join a panel discussion Christopher Stopes, Director, GOTS; Abbie Morris, Founder, Compare Ethics; Charlie Bradley Ross, Director, Offset Warehouse, moderated by Claire Lissaman, Director of Impact, Common Objective.

 Other sessions on Monday include Rosie Terry, Senior Designer from Urban Outfitters on creating a tech pack that delivers exactly the sample/garment designed;  Alan Canon Jones, Board Member, ASCBI will spotlight wool from garment design to recycling; and Abbie Morris, Founder of Compare Ethics looks at ‘How to market your sustainable supply chain to build the value of your brand’ with insights into transparency tech, the new fashion frontier.

 Key issues continue to be challenged on Tuesday starting with Christopher Stopes, Director of GOTS, looking at whether using organic textiles will help make straightforward sustainable choices, with an analysis of the impact of organically produced yarns and advice on how to buy organic textiles.

 Marie Oakes, Founder of The Trend Academy offers practical advice and insights into starting a fashion label, and how to run a profitable fashion business.

The closing seminar reveals the first steps into a more digitally connected supply chain from Maddi Cornforth, Digital Editor at WTIN. Taking inspiration from Amazon’s plans for a more integrated supply chain, collaborating to improve your access to technology, and CAD and 3D printing in the design process to dramatically reduce sampling.

 Pure Origin continues to evolve into the UK’s number one destination for sourcing and manufacturing, knowledge and solutions.

As a convenient and cost-effective way for buyers to meet with UK and international manufacturers, Pure Origin brings together over 200 exhibitors from dozens of countries to create a wide range of business and networking opportunities, new thinking and innovation.

Garment and fabric suppliers, denim and textile designers and technology brands attract buyers, sourcing, and technical personnel from the likes of Asos, White Stuff, Victoria Beckham, River Island, JD Sports, Marks & Spencer and Selfridges.

 Pure London and Pure Origin takes place at Olympia London from the 21st – 23rd July 2019. Visit