Fashion sector advances sustainability with UK action plan and US innovation summit

The Drapers Conscious Fashion Manifesto action plan urges the UK government to back fashion retail with measures such as investment in domestic manufacturing to create 100,000 jobs and generate £15 billion for the economy, tax incentives including a reduced 6 % VAT rate on resale, and a textiles extended producer responsibility (EPR) scheme to be introduced by 2027 that could raise between £150 million and £4 billion annually. The plan also calls for clear, regular guidance from Number 10 on sustainability regulations.

In New York, Sourcing Journal’s “Visions of Tomorrow” conference on July 27 will spotlight five industry innovators—True Fit CEO Jessica Murphy, Unspun co‑founder Beth Esponnette, Centric Brands’ AI director Meg Ball, Eileen Fisher’s circular‑design director Carmen Gama, and Target’s 3D product‑creation head Sandra Gagnon. The event will explore how AI, digitalisation and new technologies can improve supply‑chain transparency, circularity and cost efficiency, with organizers saying it aims to spark ideas and build a more resilient, sustainable fashion ecosystem.