Positive Fashion

The Circular Fashion Innovation Network (CFIN)

The Circular Fashion Innovation Network (CFIN) is an industry-led programme led by the British Fashion Council (BFC) and UK Fashion and Textile (UKFT) in partnership with UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) to accelerate the UK towards a Circular Fashion Ecosystem.

Register your interest to receive more information about the CFIN below.

CFIN INTERIM REPORT: ACCELERATING THE UK TOWARDS A CIRCULAR FASHION ECOSYSTEM

 

The CFIN’s interim report highlights key insights and next steps in the UK's journey towards a circular fashion ecosystem by 2032. The report, developed through extensive stakeholder engagement over the past year, focuses on three critical areas: Circular Business Models, Sustainable Manufacturing, and Recycling Infrastructure.

The report recommends several key actions to accelerate the transition to a circular fashion ecosystem:

  • Develop an accelerator programme to support scaling circular business model initiatives.
  • Explore the potential of increasing volume apparel manufacturing capacity in the UK through innovative infrastructure projects.
  • Create a comprehensive National Textile Recycling Infrastructure Plan, addressing challenges in collection, sorting, and recycling technologies.
  • Advocate for Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) schemes in the UK textile industry to help finance recycling infrastructure.

DOWNLOAD THE REPORT

 

CFIN strategic themes

OVERVIEW

Reduce waste and over-production of clothing by embedding circular business practices; considering regulation changes, the UK Net Zero Strategy and broader climate goals.

KEY OUTPUTS

  • Develop high level principles for circular transition
  • Create profitability business case for change
  • Business readiness for regulation changes
  • Disseminate learnings and drive forward industry-wide transition to CBMs

OVERVIEW

Effectively use infrastructure and create partnerships to optimise closed-loop recycling processes and lay foundations for extended producer responsibility.

KEY OUTPUTS

  • Develop strategy for UK textile recycling​
  • Identify technology needs and map innovation landscape
  • Identify skills required to achieve scaled UK textile recycling​

OVERVIEW

Reduce environmental impacts and waste from manufacturing processes from the production of clothing by 2025 and achieve Net Zero by 2050 globally.

KEY OUTPUTS

  • Identify technology needs and map innovation landscape​
  • Create sustainability blueprint for waste & emission reduction
  • Manufacturer education pathways on decarbonisation​

OVERVIEW

Encourage the adoption and investment of technology-ready innovations and scale up and integrate novel technologies that support circular fashion.​

KEY OUTPUTS

  • Circular technology showcase​
  • Develop vision, roadmap and framework to collaborate with academia
  • Create investment prioritisation framework

OVERVIEW

Upskill the workforce and build a diverse and future-proof talent pipeline to close the skills gaps, working across the Network to help attract, train and retain the next generation of talent.​

KEY OUTPUTS

  • Develop strategy for scaling digital skills in UK fashion
  • Identify new skills required to future-proof industry workforce
  • Identify approach to improve access to the UK fashion industry

OVERVIEW

Create new economically viable circular fashion products and services which enable new exporting revenue channels, generate high value jobs and opportunities.​

KEY OUTPUTS

  • Research on what the UK fashion industry can learn from other sectors and markets on establishing green growth​
  • Collate business case elements on how to achieve green growth

The BFC champions British fashion as a creative force on the world stage by pioneering world-class programmes that unlock and elevate British Creative Talent.

We are a not-for-profit organisation focused on responsible growth, innovation and amplification of the British fashion industry.

We do this through relentless innovation, fuelling responsible growth and by amplifying our narrative globally.

The UK Fashion & Textile Association (UKFT) is the largest network for fashion and textile companies in the UK. We bring together designers, manufacturers, suppliers, agents, educators and retailers to promote their businesses and our industry, both in the UK and throughout the world.

We are in a unique position representing the entire UK fashion and textile supply chain, from spinning, weaving and knitting, right through to the catwalk.

UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) receives central government sponsorship to support science and innovation in the UK. Our vision is for an outstanding research and innovation system in the UK that gives everyone the opportunity to contribute and to benefit.

UKRI supports the fashion and textile industry through various funding initiatives. For example, our Circular Fashion and Textiles Programme is designed to enable the UK to be the global leader in circular fashion, by levering industry expertise, the innovation ecosystem, and the research base, allowing them to meet Net Zero Targets before 2050.
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