Footwear and ethical sourcing move up the agenda for retailers
The UK footwear manufacturing industry is now seen as thriving, with many of the Northamptonshire-based companies reporting increasing sales and exports, according to John Saunders, chairman of the British Footwear Association.
He was speaking at a UK-based leather and footwear conference, Head to Toe, organised by the Association of Suppliers to the British Clothing Industry (ASBCI).
ASBCI said its members had requested an event focusing on leather and footwear because an increasing number were looking to add these lines to clothing collections to round out their offering.
The top two concerns of retailers are now increasing speed to market and enhancing social and environmental compliance are now, according to a survey by constancy Kurt Salmon.
