On 9th September 2025, Fashion-Enter Ltd Leicester and the Apparel & Textile Manufacturers Federation (ATMF) hosted a high-level industry meeting with manufacturers, innovators, and stakeholders to explore opportunities for UK garment manufacturing, particularly in relation to government procurement contracts for PPE and military uniforms.

The meeting, attended by a cross-section of Leicester’s garment and textile sector, highlighted the region’s resilience, innovation, and renewed potential in the face of years of challenges. Held at a pivotal time for UK manufacturing, the session served as a rallying point for local businesses to showcase progress, voice concerns, and map a future-forward agenda.

A special thank you goes to Marianne, a journalist from Channel 4’s Dispatches, who attended the meeting to gather insight into the realities and resurgence of Leicester’s textile industry. Her participation helped bring visibility to the positive developments often overlooked in mainstream narratives.

Participants shared powerful examples of how cutting-edge technologies and lean production models are being adopted locally. From digital pattern cutting to print-on-demand systems, Leicester’s manufacturers are proving that innovation is thriving and it’s happening on home soil.

The group discussed how freight costs, shipping delays, and global instability have drastically reduced the appeal of offshore manufacturing. The price differential between producing overseas versus locally is eroding fast, strengthening the case for on-shoring – especially in a region with a rich heritage of skilled stitchers and robust infrastructure.

Success Stories from Leicester’s Frontline Factories:

• Jerseytex Ltd demonstrated how fast-track fabric delivery is giving UK production a competitive edge.

• Spring Shades Ltd spoke about their multi-million-pound plant investment, revitalising a unit previously approved by Marks & Spencer and the NHS during the COVID-19 response.

• Sunny P. from Meesha Group shared his success with a lean, efficient print-to-demand service, now catering to brands of all sizes

Snahal Patel delivered a powerful message on the need for government support and ethical buying behaviour. He urged brands to stop stringing along manufacturers with uncertain commitments and to embrace loyalty and transparency in their supply chains.

Other attendees, including Avinci and Innovative Clothing, raised concerns about audit costs being unfairly pushed onto small factories. They asked the question everyone in the room knew the answer to: If factories pass audits, where’s the guaranteed work?

As Parliament recess ends, Fashion-Enter Ltd Leicester and ATMF will continue to campaign for vital procurement contracts  including PPE and military uniform production to return to the UK. These contracts not only ensure supply chain security but also support ethical employment, local economies, and sustainability goals.

Moreover, a challenge was issued to multinational retailers: If the UK has the capacity, capability, and compliance – why aren’t you making here?

To turn this positive momentum into long-term transformation, the group outlined several key strategies that must now be actioned collaboratively by industry, government, and brands.