Vietnamese products make mark at Europe’s largest fashion, textile fair

Le Dinh Ba, Trade Counsellor at the Vietnam Trade Office, said the national pavilion enabled small- and medium-sized enterprises to participate by sending products and catalogues. The exhibition offered a valuable platform for Vietnamese businesses to showcase their capabilities, connect with buyers, and build long-term trade relationships.

Vietnamese textile and fashion products attracted strong interest at Source Fashion London, Europe’s largest fashion sourcing fair, held from July 8–10 in the UK capital.

Supported by the Vietnam Trade Office in the UK and the Vietnam Textile and Apparel Association, 10 Vietnamese firms showcased a variety of garments and accessories, drawing attention from both British and international retailers. Highlights included dresses, suits, children's clothing, sportswear, and notably silk scarves and fashion accessories.

Held twice a year, Source Fashion London is the UK’s biggest B2B fashion trade show, featuring 350 exhibitors from around the world. This year’s event displayed fabrics, yarns, garments, and accessories, drawing thousands of professional buyers, designers, and retailers.

Le Dinh Ba, Trade Counsellor at the Vietnam Trade Office, said the national pavilion enabled small- and medium-sized enterprises to participate by sending products and catalogues. The exhibition offered a valuable platform for Vietnamese businesses to showcase their capabilities, connect with buyers, and build long-term trade relationships.

With total UK textile imports valued at 16.7 billion GBP (22.5 billion USD) in 2024, Ba saw ample room for Vietnamese firms to expand their presence.

Pietro Lessi, client relations director at Source Fashion London, described the event as an ideal gateway for Vietnamese exporters, citing growing demand in the UK for direct sourcing from Asian manufacturers. With 68% of the UK fashion market made up of private-label brands, he saw strong potential for more Vietnamese participation in future fairs.

Vietnam’s textile and fashion industry has already established a solid foothold in the UK. The country is now the UK’s sixth-largest supplier of textiles and fashion items, following China, Bangladesh, Italy, Turkey and India. “Made in Vietnam” products are widely available in major British retail chains, including M&S, Next, Zara and Primark.

In 2024, Vietnam exported approximately 920 million USD worth of textiles and fashion accessories to the UK - an increase of 15% compared to the previous year./.