Meet the Manufacturer, organised by Make it British and now in its fourth year, is back for 2017. Meet the Manufacturer is the only major sourcing event specifically for British manufacturers of clothing, textiles, leather goods and homeware.

This year’s event promises to be bigger and better than ever before and will include a two-day trade show with free drop-in seminars, workshops and live demonstrations with, of course, plenty of opportunities for networking, organisers report. Day one will culminate in a VIP drinks reception and BBQ.

Make it British brands hall

New for this year is a Make it British brands hall, dedicated to a carefully curated selection of British-made brands. Altogether, over 150 exhibitors will be showcasing the best of British clothing manufacturers, textile mills, leather-goods makers, homeware designers and suppliers to the UK apparel and textile industry.

Companies include: Geoff Stocker, producing high-end accessories for men; Isabella Queen, a British-based brand offering luxury leather accessories crafted in London; Wild Things, creating imaginative play clothes for children hand-made in the UK; and Unibu, producing unique underwear that’s 100% made in Britain.

The 2016 event attracted over 100 exhibiting companies from across the textile and homeware sectors and from all corners of the British Isles. The next edition will take place from24-25 May in London, UK.

Meet the Manufacturer

Kate Hills is founder and CEO of Make it British. Twenty years of working as a designer and buyer for brands such as Burberry and M&S and multiple product sourcing trips overseas prompted Kate to set up the Make it British website to help promote UK manufacturing and British-made brands.

Now in its seventh year, the website has gone from strength to strength and Kate has appeared regularly on television and radio espousing her firm belief that manufacturing in the UK is thriving, cost-effective and sustainable.

Kate Hills launched Meet the Manufacturer in 2014, a trade show and conference for the UK fashion and textiles industry. The event brings together the best of British manufacturers with buyers and designers looking to have their products made in Britain.

www.meetthemanufacturer.co.uk

www.makeitbritish.co.uk

Further reading

Meet the Manufacturer 2017 reflects increased demand for brands Made in Britain