Source Fashion unveils seminar agenda for July 2025 London show

Source Fashion, Europe’s leading responsible sourcing show running from 8th-10th July 2025 at The Grand Hall, Olympia London, has announced its seminar agenda. With global trade tensions, inflation, and ongoing supply chain disruption redefining retail norms, this summer’s programme leans into the challenge and confronts uncomfortable truths head on – covering fresh thinking around economics, market shifts and ethical sourcing strategy.

Source Fashion, Europe’s leading responsible sourcing show, is set to return to Olympia London from July 8–10, 2025 with seminar agenda tackling economic volatility, ethical sourcing, and fashion’s future.
Highlights include panels on AI, post-growth models, resale, and returns, plus daily runway shows featuring sustainable collections.

Running across 3 days and 2 stages, the content highlights fresh thinking and innovation around how to thrive in an era of volatility, rising costs and shifting goalposts. 

This season also welcomes the return of the Source Debates Stage. These sessions are made to challenge and invite fresh thinking on topics including AI design, reducing overconsumption and whether decoupling profit from volume could be a reality.

Suzanne Ellingham, Event Director of Source Fashion says, “We would love to be talking about 2030 goals and the positive steps and impact the industry is making, but the reality is it’s a tough business environment, and many of those goals are secondary to paying the bills. We are living through unprecedented amounts of risk and volatility, and risk is very much BAU now. So, for this show, we’re focusing on what it really takes to succeed in uncertain times—combining practical insight with future-focused thinking. From supply chain resilience to sustainability under pressure, our agenda brings together the voices that matter most to help businesses not just adapt but thrive.”

Complementing the seminar programme, the Source Fashion Catwalk will run three times a day, bringing responsibly produced collections and trend-led pieces from global exhibitors to life. These dynamic runway shows offer a visual narrative of innovation and sustainability, inspiring buyers with the latest womenswear and showing how to build complete looks and ranges direct from the show floor.

Highlights of the agenda include:

Finding clarity from chaos – leading with purpose.  In an industry defined by constant change, leadership rooted in clarity and purpose is more vital than ever. In this intimate fireside chat, Lynda Petherick, Chief Information Officer, New Look and Non-Executive Director, British Fashion Council shares honest reflections on steering teams through disruption, maintaining agility, and making decisions that truly matter. From shifting consumer behaviour to internal transformation, this is a must-attend session for leaders navigating the demands of modern retail. 

Leading and collaborating through geopolitical and economic upheaval. In an era marked by geopolitical tension, inflation, and supply chain challenges, leadership and collaboration have never been more critical. This fireside chat with Hash Ladha, Former CEO, Jigsaw delves into how strong internal alignment, cross-functional communication, and strategic supplier partnerships can build resilience and help businesses navigate global instability with confidence.

The new ‘New’ – is pre-loved the future of fashion? Fashion Director and renowned sustainability advocate Bay Garnett joins Lauretta Roberts, CEO and Editor-in-Chief of TheIndustry.Fashion, to explore whether the explosion of second-hand marketplaces and rental platforms represents a lasting shift or passing trend. The discussion will delve into shifting generational attitudes, the influence of thrift culture, and how resale is redefining status, value, and desirability in modern fashion.

Volatility is nothing new – but are the rules changing? Business volatility has long been a constant in retail, from supply chain disruptions to shifting regulations and global trade tensions. In this session, Bill McRaith, Executive Adviser, Future-Proof Fashion explores what has truly changed over the past year and highlights emerging trends to watch. Using data-driven insights, he offers practical guidance on recognizing patterns and building resilience to not just survive but thrive amid ongoing uncertainty.

When will consumers really pay more – are they ready? A panel including, Anna Berry, Co-Founder and Director, Retail 100, Berni Yates, Knowledge Exchange Lead, CSM and Mark Sumner, Textiles Lead, WRAP will tackle one of the most debated questions in ethical fashion: are consumers truly willing to pay more for sustainably and ethically sourced products? Despite survey data suggesting they are, the reality often tells a different story. Industry experts will explore the gap between perception and purchase behavior and examine what it will take for brands to successfully align price with purpose, without losing their audience. 

Fewer products, bigger impact? Making the business case for a post-growth model. As fashion grapples with its environmental footprint, this panel session challenges the long-held belief that more volume equals more profit. Simon Platts, Co-Founder, SP & KO Consultancy, Nick Reed, Founder, Neem London and Helena Mansell-Stopher, CEO, Products of Change will explore how a post-growth mindset, focused on producing less, but better, can deliver meaningful impact, reduce waste, and sharpen product strategy without compromising commercial success. 

Why are we still talking about MOQs? Minimum order quantities remain a sticking point in sourcing conversations, but is it time to rethink the entire concept? This panel session featuring, Simon Platts, Co-Founder, SP&KO Consultancy, Isabelle Alexander, Founder, Isabelle Meira, Hayley Shore, Senior Design Manager, PepsiCo and Paul Kerrsens, Co-Founder and COO, United Repair Centre, challenges traditional assumptions around scale, affordability, and production logic, advocating for smarter, more sustainable models that reflect the realities of today’s fashion ecosystem. Expect a fresh take on how brands and manufacturers can balance viability with responsibility without defaulting to overproduction.

Returns… How Do We Fix Fashion’s Dirty Secret? Returns have long been a hidden source of waste in fashion, but the true scale would surprise many consumers. This panel featuring, Sara Allbright, Co-Founder and Director, Retail 100, Richard Barnes, Founder, Select Research and Ross Barry, Founder, Reskinned, examines the root causes, from fit issues to delivery challenges, and explores innovative strategies to reduce returns, improve customer satisfaction, and cut one of the industry’s largest waste streams.

Helping global fashion buyers, buy better, registration for Source Fashion 8th-10th July, Olympia London is live at Source Fashion.

Note: The headline, insights, and image of this press release may have been refined by the Fibre2Fashion staff; the rest of the content remains unchanged.

Fibre2Fashion News Desk (HU)