Daniel Connoy outlines £62bn sector’s sustainability drive, trade pivots and China links at Intertextile Shanghai 2025

The United Kingdom’s fashion and textile industry is positioning itself for robust global growth while embedding sustainability and circularity into every layer of its supply chain, according to Daniel Connoy, Senior Executive at the UK Fashion & Textile Association (UKFT). Addressing international buyers and suppliers at Intertextile Shanghai Apparel Fabrics – Autumn Edition 2025, Connoy portrayed a sector blending heritage craft with forward-looking innovation. “We are the largest network for fashion and textiles in the UK,” he said. “Our mission is to deliver sustainable growth across the entire value chain — from brands and designers to mills, educators and retailers.”

A £62 billion economic powerhouse

Research commissioned by UKFT and Oxford Economics pegs the industry’s gross value added at £62 billion, supporting 4.3 million jobs — one in every 25 in Britain — and generating £23 billion in annual tax revenues. Britons buy more than 4 billion fashion items a year, underscoring the sector’s weight in domestic retail as well as exports.

Trade flows and shifting markets

UK textile exports have stabilised since the pandemic, with Europe still dominant, though clothing shipments dipped after 2020 amid Brexit and global disruptions. Imports remain diverse: Bangladesh and China lead non-EU supply, while Italy, France, Spain and Germany stay strong.

Connoy flagged tariffs and geopolitical frictions as 2025 headwinds but said new agreements are widening horizons. The UK’s accession to the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP) signals intent to engage markets from Canada to Vietnam, while a free-trade pact with India is nearing completion.

China: Partner in sourcing and sales

China remains central to UK sourcing and a fast-growing consumer base. Latest figures show £6.3 billion in UK apparel and textile imports from China, versus £284 million in exports. “Our industry depends on Chinese manufacturing for quality as much as price,” Connoy noted. “But we’re also intent on serving China’s expanding premium market.”

Circular economy & compliance

A highlight of Connoy’s talk was the sector’s pivot to a circular economy. Through its Circular Fashion Innovation Network, UKFT is building infrastructure for recycling, sustainable manufacturing and fibre-to-fibre technologies.

A flagship study shows Britons discard 700,000+ tonnes of non-reusable textiles annually. Pilots with heritage firms such as Begg & Co have turned waste fibres into luxury blankets from recycled wool and cashmere. “The challenge is scaling commercially viable recycling,” Connoy stressed, adding that compliance with new environmental rules is becoming mission-critical for UK operators.

Expanding the global footprint

UKFT has ramped up overseas promotion post-pandemic, sending delegations in 2025 to Vietnam, Tokyo, Atlanta and New York, alongside regular showings at Milano Unica, Première Vision, Pitti Uomo and Paris Fashion Week. Partnerships with Messe Frankfurt and the Worshipful Company of Clothworkers are helping British mills and designers gain traction abroad.

Visitors to Hall 5.1, Stand G84 at Intertextile Shanghai can view samples from 20+ UK companies ranging from luxury woollens to advanced technical fabrics.

Outlook for resilience, innovation and sustainability

Despite trade frictions and slow Brexit aftershocks, Connoy struck an optimistic note. “The EU will remain vital, but Asia, the Americas and the Pacific are just as exciting,” he concluded. “Our focus is resilience, innovation and sustainability — ensuring the UK thrives in an increasingly competitive global textile landscape.”

These efforts, combined with a focus on compliance and innovation, show an industry determined to not only survive but thrive in a complex global environment. UKFT's presence at international events like the one in Shanghai underscores their commitment to finding new partners and solidifying the UK's reputation as a leader in quality, creativity, and sustainable practice.