The show, returning to Excel London from 7–9 July 2026, aims to provide buyers and industry professionals with practical solutions for navigating a changing sourcing landscape.
Research conducted ahead of the event highlights that fashion buyers must manage constant market instability, increasing compliance demands, and new sustainability requirements as routine aspects of their roles.
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Rising costs and supply chain disruptions are forcing teams to make sourcing decisions quickly, often with greater financial stakes involved. The growing influence of regulation means sustainability is now shaped by the need for compliance and detailed reporting, creating new demands on buyers and suppliers.
The Source Fashion advisory board and industry research have identified six key issues for 2026.
These include operating within ongoing market volatility, reconciling sustainability with commercial pressures, making circular business models cost-effective, evolving value chain cooperation, focusing innovation on measurable business outcomes, and managing new reporting and data compliance requirements.
In response, Source Fashion’s agenda offers a content programme structured to move “beyond discussion and provide practical, commercially relevant” support for buyers.
The event will use a variety of new and returning formats to turn industry challenges into applicable insights. Visitors can expect interactive demonstrations on materials and production processes, expert panels and case studies on future trends, and peer-led debate sessions addressing urgent industry topics.
Speakers featured across these sessions will include Marguerite of Euromonitor International, Bill McRaith of Future-Proof Fashion, Sonica Beckman of House of Kind, Sarah Coleman of Margarett Howell, Nick Reed of Neem London, Rosie Cripps of Vivo Barefoot, and Joseph Mountain of N Brown.
Source Fashion event director Suzanne Ellingham stated: “What we’re hearing isn’t rocket science, what we know from listening is that the industry has become more complex, more pressured and, in many cases, overwhelming. There are no shortage of high expectations, new strategies, regulation or technology, but there is a real need for clarity on what actually works in practice, and what delivers real value at scale. As an industry we have to share insight now to help the boat go faster for everyone, in the right direction.
“For us, this research is about listening to those challenges and shaping a content programme that responds directly to them. We want to move the conversation beyond theory and into practical, actionable insight that helps buyers navigate cost, risk and responsibility in a more confident and informed way. It’s about making sure the industry conversations we’re having translate into real business impact. Ultimately we want to talk about the things that matter.”
Source Fashion will convene audited manufacturers from the UK and key international regions, offering resources and direct insight for those tackling the current and emerging challenges of fashion sourcing.
Recently, Source Fashion expanded its advisory board as it announced that the UK will have the second-largest national presence at the show, after China.
