Source Fashion in 12-month deal with WRAP to boost sustainability

Trade show Source Fashion has announced a 12-month “strategic” collaboration with global environmental action group Waste and Resources Action Programme (WRAP) to “drive impact and change” in the sustainability arena.

The collaboration officially launches at Source Fashion’s upcoming Olympia London trade show (8-10 July) where WRAP “will play a central role in the event’s thought leadership programme”.

The Hyve-operated event said the association “will extend far beyond the show floor and reinforce Source Fashion’s long-term commitment to sustainability, circularity, and responsible sourcing within the global fashion industry”.

It said the alliance will see WRAP embedded across Source Fashion’s live and digital platforms, “providing expert insight and leadership throughout the next 12 months”.

Key highlights will include a headline debate session led by Mark Sumner, WRAP Textiles Programme lead, entitled ‘If We Started All Over Again, What Would It Look Like?’ 

The session “will reimagine the fashion industry from the ground up, placing sustainability, circularity, and commercial viability at its centre”. It will also “challenge traditional cost models, advocating for a shift from price-led production to value-driven retailing based on realistic sell-through potential”.

The seminar programme will also feature a panel session called ‘When will consumers really pay more – are consumers ready?’ bringing together, Rachel Gray, Behaviour Change manager, WRAP, with moderator Anna Berry, co-founder and director Retail 100, Berni Yates, Knowledge Exchange lead CSM, and Jo Hooper, CEO and founder NRBY Clothing “to explore one of the sector’s most debated questions: are consumers truly prepared to pay more for sustainable and ethically sourced fashion?”

Suzanne Ellingham, event director at Source Fashion, said: “This is not a one-off activation—it’s the start of a long term partnership focused on equipping companies with the insight they need to start to action real, measurable change.

“By working with WRAP across multiple channels, we’re building a platform that not only starts conversations but supports the industry in acting on them. WRAP brings deep expertise in sustainability, and circularity, this partnership allows us to amplify that knowledge at scale.”

Sumner added: “WRAP’s UK Textiles Pact is already driving change, but this union takes our expertise beyond sustainability circles to inspire more people across the sector towards Circular Living. Source Fashion is a proven platform for bold, challenging conversations so we are proud to bring our insights to these important discussions to help propel the industry. Teaming up with Source Fashion on its event and content is a natural fit – we are ready to go further, together, to influence real progress.”