Emissions created by manufacturing clothes in the UK are lower than those created by a similar operation in an overseas textile production base.  So, UK companies can make production processes gentler on the environment by manufacturing closer to home. The trend to manufacture overseas has not only decimated jobs in British fashion but is having a disastrous effect on the planet.

The biggest contributing factor to cleaner and more efficient manufacturing in the UK is due to the lower carbon intensity of the electricity supply network. The UK has significantly lower carbon emissions per unit of electricity compared to overseas production hubs such as China, Bangladesh and Turkey. A manufacturer in China would typically release around 90 per cent more greenhouse gas emissions while using the same energy as in the UK. Turkey would release around 70 per cent more emissions while using the same energy as in the UK and Bangladesh uses 24 per cent more. So production in the UK has lower direct carbon emissions – making it a more sustainable manufacturing base.

Renewable energy plays a key part in keeping energy consumption to a minimum. Within the garment production process, the sewing phase typically requires the most energy consumption. With solar panels, energy efficient machinery and LED lighting the average power required to make each garment has been reduced by 37.5 per cent.