ASBCI Autumn Conference Aims to Drive Dustainable Innovation in Fashion’s Future
The Association of Suppliers to the British Clothing Industry (ASBCI) is set to host its much-anticipated 2025 Autumn Conference, themed "Fashion’s Future: Sustainable, scalable, profitable. How do we get there?" This key industry event will take place on 16 October 2025 at the University of Manchester, bringing together a diverse assembly of fashion leaders, retailers, and technology experts to discuss how meaningful transformation in the fashion sector can be achieved without compromising profitability.
The conference seeks to address the pressing challenge facing fashion today—transitioning towards sustainability while maintaining scalability and profit margins. In recognising the urgency of this shift, ASBCI aims to equip attendees with practical, actionable strategies through a program rich in expert insights and real-world case studies. According to ASBCI General Manager Kirsty Holdsworth, the goal this year is clear: "We want all attendees to walk away with key learnings and tangible action points they can apply to their businesses."
A highlight of the agenda is the keynote address by Tamara Sender Ceron from Mintel, author of the recent Mintel ‘UK Fashion Sustainability Market Report 2025’. She will offer a consumer-centred overview of the current sustainability landscape, grounding the conference in the latest market research. Attendees will also hear from leading retail brands like Next and N Brown, who will share their firsthand experiences embedding sustainability into digital product creation and supply chain management. Next’s Lysette Kuwaki will spotlight the company’s pioneering use of AI in digital design and supplier engagement, demonstrating industry innovation in practice.
Emerging technologies figure prominently in the program, with sessions like Joe Darwin's from CircKit that delve into how AI can be leveraged from the outset of product design to promote circularity and sustainable practices. Circularity is further explored through insights from Tony Chvala, president of GreenEarth Cleaning, who brings a wealth of industry knowledge spanning Sears to Amazon. Chvala will discuss the role of garment care in extending product life, a crucial element for true circular fashion where garments can be resold, donated, or repurposed while maintaining quality.
In addition to product innovation and circularity, regulation is expected to be a key topic, including discussions on digital product passports and evolving compliance landscapes, reflecting the industry’s recognition that regulatory frameworks can act as catalysts for change. The conference agenda is designed to span the full supply chain spectrum—from upstream design and manufacturing considerations to downstream retail, consumer behaviour, and new business models that aim to future-proof the industry.
ASBCI is emphasising a holistic approach with the event functioning not just as a day of learning but also as a forum for discourse, combining keynote talks, panel discussions, and fireside chats. This will provide attendees with opportunities to engage directly with thought leaders such as Stuart Trevor, founder of All Saints, Giuliano Martello of Paul Smith fame, and other influential figures like Anne Davies of Fashanne and Jenny Holloway of Fashion Enter.
For those interested in exploring technological advancements further, ASBCI offers a combined ticket option that includes access to the preceding 3D NEXT LVL UK event on 15 October. This collaboration event with Alvanon and the University of Manchester focuses on groundbreaking developments in 3D digital fashion technology, complementing the sustainability themes of the conference.
Tickets for the ASBCI Autumn Conference are priced at £200 for members and £350 for non-members, with a combined ticket for both days available at £400/£550 respectively. The event forms part of a broader initiative by ASBCI to foster innovation and sustainability in the sector, including related activities like the December 2024 Fashion and Retail Innovation Lab at the University of Manchester, which engages businesses with academic expertise to tackle real-world challenges.
ASBCI’s Autumn Conference arrives amid an increasingly dynamic period for fashion, with other relevant industry events, such as the Sustainable Consumption SIG Conference in London during March 2025 and Manchester’s Innovate 2050 Festival of Business in June, underscoring a wider commitment across the sector to shaping a sustainable future.
As the industry intensifies its dialogue around sustainable transformation, the ASBCI event promises to be a pivotal platform, encouraging collaboration and pragmatic solutions to guide fashion through its next phase of evolution.