Update On ‘In Factories We Trust’ Website 

The Apparel & Textile Manufacturers Federation is delighted to confirm major progress with the new proposed website – In Factories We Trust.

In October 2025 the Apparel & Textile Manufacturers Federation (ATMF) secured funding from the Garment & Textiles Workers Trust (GTWT) and entered into a partnership with De Montfort University (DMU), Fashion-Enter Ltd (FEL) Fashion Roundtable and Katherine O’Driscoll from the consultancy agency SP&KO.

The aim is simple – to re-establish the UK as a global centre of textile and garment excellence! That’s a big objective considering the current landscape of the UK as of May 2026.

The ATMF wish to confirm that the GTWT was established five years ago with the benefit of initial grant funding provided by Boohoo. However, following this original funding, Boohoo has had no involvement in the Trust’s governance, operations, strategic direction, or day-to-day activities. The Trust operates independently and has no obligation to report to Boohoo in any capacity.

The Trust is led entirely by its independent trustees, whose current programme is focused on promoting pride in British-made manufacturing and supporting a UK-first approach to public uniform procurement.

Any survey or research work commissioned by the Trust’s consultants is undertaken solely on behalf of the Trust. All findings and outputs are shared exclusively with the trustees to support the Trust’s independent policy development and strategic work. However, the ATMF does recognise the importance of this much needed funding from GTWT and without their support the program would not have been incorporated.

It’s important to re-emphasise the program’s aims and objectives. The program involves creating a recognised emblem that will give confidence to both brands and government to work with the supply chain of the UK and this has resulted in the creation of a new website that is currently under construction. Entitled ‘In Factories We Trust’, extensive market research is currently taking place to ensure the website is fit for purpose.

This new standard will champion ethical production, environmental sustainability, innovation, and put the UK on a world-class stage for heritage British craftsmanship. The partnership is designing, testing and piloting the new website which is being constructed by SWOF Media. The initiative aims to strengthen the UK textile industry, boost jobs, and create a compelling economic and public case for sourcing more garments, PPE and uniforms from British manufacturers, firmly supporting the Chancellor’s call to make, sell and buy more in Britain.

After decades of decline driven by cheaper overseas sourcing, the UK garment industry is at a turning point. Rising tariffs, geopolitical instability and the growing demand for transparent and low-carbon supply chains have prompted brands and institutions to rethink long, fragile international supply routes.

“The Trust was created to safeguard workers and strengthen the foundations of our sector, and this new national strategy is a natural extension of that mission,” said Kevin McKeever, Chair of the Trust.

The new website and backing a campaign for a UK-First public procurement policy is an investment in people, in skills, and in a fairer future for British Manufacturing.

“There is a real opportunity for the UK to reclaim its place as a world leader in textiles, not by being the cheapest, but by being the most ethical, sustainable and reliable,” said Jenny Holloway, Chair, ATMF. “We are developing this new website to be a trusted critical friend to brands and government procurement agencies.”

The new website In Factories We Trust will be designed to recognise the very best of UK textile production, setting standards in:

• Ethical and safe working conditions

• Environmental sustainability and low-carbon manufacturing

• Technical innovation

• Quality, durability and craftsmanship

The project will run pilot programmes with a representative range of UK mills, factories and workshops, as well as major retailers, to validate the site, commercial viability and real-world impact.

Jenny further commented: “We are building the economic and political case for ‘UK-First’ procurement and this program will produce a robust economic case for expanding UK-based production. 

This includes:

• Detailed modelling of employment, economic and social impacts

• Costed implementation plans for industry adoption

• Recommendations for government policy support and targeted incentives

A key component of the programme is making a compelling public and political case for a UK-first approach to public-sector uniform procurement, including for the NHS, Armed Forces, police and emergency services, institutions that collectively purchase millions of garments each year.

“Public procurement can be a powerful engine for job creation and industrial renewal,” added Jenny Holloway. “Every pound spent on UK-made uniforms supports skilled employment, strengthens local economies and builds supply chain resilience.”

Revitalising the sector could unlock thousands of skilled jobs across regions with deep textile heritage, from Leicester and Yorkshire to Scotland and the North West, while supporting a new generation of talent in design, manufacturing and technical innovation. The initiative also aligns closely with national priorities on net zero, regional levelling-up, industrial resilience and ethical supply chains.

The ATMF is however pleased to note that progress has been made. One leading retailer has approached the ATMF with an aim of meeting a wide cross section of factories from Leicester in mid-June. The ATMF has submitted a bid as a consortium of factories to the Home Office for £60m and the Leicester Made & Regions event in April 2026 was so successful its now being expanded to a national roadshow with Manchester and Regions being first in October 2026.

Image courtesy of Fashion-Enter Ltd