The Association of Suppliers to the British Clothing Industry (ASBCI) proudly announces the 2025 ASBCI Conference: Fashion’s Future: Sustainable, scalable, profitable. How do we get there?
Taking place on 16 October 2025 at the University of Manchester, the prestigious event will bring together a diverse community of industry leaders to explore how we can bring about meaningful change within the industry, while remaining profitable. Attendees can learn from the experts and get practical, actionable advice from experienced big-name retail speakers.
Throughout the conference, experts will share their insights on an array of topics. From product development to end of life and reuse, AI and emerging technologies, circularity, and regulation, including digital product passports. Hear from retail brands such as Next and N Brown through to tech experts such as CircKit, and research teams from Mintel and the University of Manchester. Join sessions with the likes of Stuart Trevor (Founder of All Saints), Giuliano Martello (previously Paul Smith), Anne Davies (Fashanne), Jenny Holloway (Fashion Enter / Apparel & Textile Manufacturers Federation) and Suzanne Ellingham (Source Fashion), who will share their insights and deliver actionable points as the fashion industry grapples with the transformation required.
Some of the key sessions include:
· Keynote speaker, Tamara Sender Ceron of Mintel and author of the Mintel ‘UK Fashion Sustainability Market Report 2025’, will set the scene with an overview of the current landscape from a consumer’s perspective, while sharing insights from her Mintel report.
· Next’s Lysette Kuwaki, digital product creation lead, will share how the business is navigating its digital product development transformation. Find out more about the brand’s journey, from AI-enhanced design and block building to supplier engagement and digital twins.
· Incorporating sustainability from the very start is key, and Joe Darwin from CircKit will discuss how brands and retailers can leverage the latest AI technologies to embed sustainable and circular practices in the design process.
· Circularity and durability will be a major focus at the ASBCI Conference. For pre-loved garments to be sold, donated, or repurposed, they require gentle care that helps retain colour, shape and fabric condition. Tony Chvala, president of GreenEarth Cleaning, whose career has taken him from Sears to Amazon, will explain how to achieve true product circularity.
We know that change is needed and we know what needs to be done, but how do we actually get there? That is the challenge. We’re all talking about sustainability, but understanding what steps to take and what is right for each brand or business can be daunting. This year, we wanted to ensure that all attendees walk away from the conference with key learnings and tangible action points that they can apply to their businesses.”
Kirsty Holdsworth, General Manager at the ASBCI
Hosted by the University of Manchester, the event will combine keynote presentations with panel discussions and fireside chats to cover the hot topics of the day and the urgent imperative for change. Speakers will consider both upstream and downstream processes, covering design, development and materials, manufacturing and the supply chain, before looking at retail, consumer behaviour and the business models that will allow all sections of the industry to thrive. There will be discussions around circularity and durability, and a spotlight on the regulatory landscape as a catalyst for change.
Furthermore, for those interested in emerging technologies, combine the conference with a day of pioneering technology insight by attending the 3D NEXT LVL UK event the day before.
A full agenda will be announced shortly via: asbci.co.uk. Tickets to the conference are £200/£350+VAT for members/non-members. A combined ticket to both days is just £400/£550+VAT for members/non-members.
