UKFT relaunches 'Let's Make It Here' website

The movers and shakers of the UK fashion and manufacturing industry came together to celebrate the new and improved service at the event in association with supporters DISC (Designer - Manufacturer Innovation Support Centre) and Creative Skillset.

Leading industry talent and board member of Creative Skillset, Betty Jackson CBE showcased her support to ‘Lets Make It Here’ with an inspirational speech at the event.

The ‘Let’s Make It Here’ site is a free online database where any company who manufactures textiles or apparel in the UK can be listed in order to be found by designers, brands or retailers searching for production closer to home.

The database is available to anyone in the UK or overseas to use, to search for companies that can cover all stages of the supply chain; from yarns to cloth to trimmings to clothing manufacturing, plus all relevant ancillary finishing and processing services.

The new and improved ‘Let’s Make It Here’ site is easier to use and navigate with more detailed and accurate information from an improved search functionality, extensive category listings and a detailed Google map of factories across the country.

UKFT CEO John Miln said, “More and more retailers are looking to bring back production closer to home, reducing lead times and maintaining control on factory production standards. The ‘Let’s Make It Here’ database aims to make it simple for retailers to search for UK based manufactures that are not only geographically convenient but also reliable and efficient.”

UKFT working with both DISC and Creative Skillset has been the perfect partnership to relaunch the UKFT ‘Lets Make It Here’ website.

DISC, the organisation supporting fashion manufacturers and designers, and Creative Skillset, the industry body supporting skills and training for people, together with UKFT is a great force to tackle all sectors of the fashion and textile industry in need of support. This ranges from maintaining the manufacturing infrastructure in the UK to addressing the need of skilled workers.

DISC Director Wendy Malem said, “More and more we hear our designers saying they want to make in the UK and it is significant tools such as Let’s Make It Here that makes this possible.”

Betty Jackson CBE said, “It is an exciting time to be working in the fashion and textiles industry in the UK. The re-launch of UKFTs database of local manufactures reflects the renewed interest in quality products and materials made right here in the UK and the growth in textile/fashion manufacturing.

"This growth needs to be supported by a skilled workforce; Creative Skillset is workingwith industry to ensure that at every stage of the production and design process the necessary skills and talent are being developed. They are working to inspire and prepare the next generation to ensure that this growth is sustainable and long-term.”

UK Fashion and Textile Association (UKFT)