Manufacturing news and archive

The 'Prato system': corruption and illegal labour at the heart of the Italian textile industry

The fatal shooting of Zhang Dayong in Rome, who was found with six bullet wounds, initially seemed unconnected to Prato, Italy's textile hub. However, investigators now believe the murder is part of a brutal "hanger war" between rival Chinese mafia groups for control of Europe's largest garment manufacturing centre. This criminal escalation is...

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Coats Group acquires OrthoLite for 770 million dollars

British manufacturing firm Coats Group has entered an agreement to acquire OrthoLite Holdings LLC for 770 million dollars. The deal intends to create “a ‘super tier 2’ supplier for footwear components”, while helping Coats expand into the “high growth insole segment”. The transaction, which is expected to close in Q4 2025, was funded through a...

Fairs

Collaboration, connection, and credibility: Source Fashion marks record growth with global and local momentum

Source Fashion closed the doors of its new, larger home of Olympia London yesterday, marking the end of what the event said was a “record-breaking show”. According to preliminary figures, footfall was up 51 percent year-on-year, as buyers from both local and global fashion players descended on the event to meet and network with international...

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Fairs|Interview

Diversifying buyers, shifting priorities: Source Fashion scales up to meet evolving sourcing demands

“We’re still in toddler territory,” Source Fashion director, Suzanne Ellingham, jokingly said when asked about the event’s milestones. Now in its third year, the trade fair is moving into the bigger venue of The Grand Hall in Olympia London. The move reflects the 30 percent year-on-year growth experienced since its inception in 2023. Despite...

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Q1 sales for UK fashion manufacturers surge despite drop in confidence

First quarter sales for UK fashion manufacturers surged despite a drop in business confidence, according to new data by Unleashed. The inventory management firm said that small and medium enterprises (SMEs) within the UK’s clothing and fashion manufacturing industry made 68 percent more sales revenue in Q1 compared to the last quarter of 2024....

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From volume to value: Bangladesh's garment strategy amid trade turmoil

Bangladesh’s garment industry seeks to shed its low-cost, large quantity image as it aims to capture higher-value business. At Best of Bangladesh, a fair and conference in the heart of Amsterdam, manufacturers and government officials advertised the world’s second largest garment producer’s transition, hoping to gain more business amid global...

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Australian organisations team up to develop country’s first National Manufacturing Strategy

The Australian Fashion Council (AFC) and clothing manufacturing company R.M. Williams have established a new partnership to develop what would be Australia’s first-ever National Manufacturing Strategy. The duo intend to mobilise efforts to “rebuild and future-proof” the local fashion and textile industry in the pursuit of building up a globally...

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News

University of Westminster offering new MA course to bridge the skills gap in manufacturing

The University of Westminster ranked in the top 20 universities in the UK, has announced a new Master of Arts (MA) course in collaboration with the UK Fashion and Textile Association (UKFT) designed to boost the number of skilled fashion manufacturers. The Fashion Manufacturing MA course, launching in September, is being described as a “...

Background

Who makes our clothes? Fashion Production Explained

Ever wondered who actually makes your clothes and how fashion's supply chain impacts workers' lives? This deep dive unpacks how fashion production works and explores what’s needed for meaningful change in the industry. FashionUnited interviewed Kim van der Weerd, a former factory manager with a background in human rights, who advocates for a...

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New report unveils gender disparities in Italian fashion manufacturing industry

Non-profit Global Fashion Agenda and accountancy firm PwC Italy have published a preliminary research report that provides a detailed assessment of pay disparities in the Italian fashion sector. Titled “Unpacking Pay Equity in Fashion: Italy”, the report was developed with support from the Italian fashion association Camera Nazionale della Moda...

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European subsidiary of Teijin Frontier opens Paris showroom amid expansion plans

High performance fibre producer Teijin Frontier has announced that its European subsidiary, Teijin Frontier Europe GmbH, has opened a new showroom in Paris as part of the firm’s plans to expand its fashion business in the region. The showroom houses and displays Teijin Frontier’s fabric collection and products, including its Ecopet polyester...

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Shein to invest 150m dollars in Brazilian garment manufacturers

Shein, the Chinese ultra fast-fashion retailer, has been investing in Brazilian garment manufacturers in order to expand its production capabilities and shorten its supply chain. On Thursday the company said it would invest a further 750 million reais (approximately 148.9 million dollars) to establish a network with thousands of textile...