Fashion District’s ‘Manufacturing Futures’ Initiative: Empowering Sustainable Fashion Innovators
The Fashion District is launching its latest initiative, ‘Manufacturing Futures’, aimed at supporting emerging changemakers in the retail and fashion manufacturing industry. This innovation challenge offers startups and SMEs the opportunity to win a £15,000 cash prize, along with the chance to pitch to leading industry brands and innovators. Additionally, successful candidates will receive membership to the UK Fashion & Textile Association (UKFT), providing access to events, webinars, networking opportunities, and market insights.
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Furthermore, winners will receive a year of business membership to Common Objective, offering access to a vast network of global connections, premium intelligence, and sustainable fashion training courses. They will also receive a year of desk membership at The Trampery workspace in East London’s Fish Island Village, a vibrant fashion community hub.
fashion: Applications are currently open, with shortlisted candidates facing a judging panel in July 2024. This panel comprises experts driving sustainability in the fashion industry, including representatives from Alexander McQueen, Selfridges, Pangaia, London College of Fashion, and the UKFT.
Helen Lax, Founder of Fashion District, expressed her pride in bringing back the Manufacturing Futures challenge, welcoming applicants passionate about technological and sustainable innovations. The initiative seeks solutions across various areas such as materials innovation, digital technologies, manufacturing processes, supply chain, circular economy, and end-of-use strategies.
Selected participants will also benefit from business development consultancy from Pangaia and access to the Fashion District and The Trampery’s accelerator programme, Evo Fashion.