Think recycled fashion is a fleeting trend? Think again....

Future Fabrics Expo London 2025 live Panel discussion ‘How Do Designers Embrace Circularity?’, 24th June 2025

This year’s Future Fabrics Expo London, from the team at The Sustainable Angle, showcased a new era in recycled fashion & textiles.

From easily accessible suppliers of high quality deadstock fabric, to exciting innovations in textile recycling, there are now so many more options out there.

These were some of my key takeaways from the event....

High end deadstock fabrics

Nona Source provide an online platform offering high quality deadstock fabrics ‘from the most prestigious luxury Maisons, and particulary LVMH’s Fashion & Leather Goods ones such as Louis Vuitton, Dior, Fendi, Celine and many others’.

Cecile Bouton of Nona Source was one of the key speakers on the live Panel discussion ‘How Do Designers Embrace Circularity?’

It was refreshing to hear her talk about the company’s approach of putting impact before profit, to offer as many designers as possible the option of using high quality deadstock fabrics rather than virgin fabrics. As she explained during the panel discussion, ‘it’s not about the money....the longer we last, the more impact we will have’. 

Nona Source at Future Fabrics Expo London 2025

“Be restrictive to be creative..... creativity comes from the limit’

Another of the panelists, Designer Benjamin Benmoyal, regularly works with Nona Source to find fabrics for his collections. He explained that for him, as well as wanting to use deadstock from from a sustainability perspective, he finds that a narrower choice of fabrics actually sparks his creativity, saying he prefers to “Be restrictive to be creative.... ‘creativity comes from the limit”

Motif Handmade at Future Fabrics Expo London 2025

Deadstock yarns in every imaginable colour 

Alongside re-purposing fabrics in their current state, textile recycling was also a key focus at the event. I chatted to one of the key exhibitors who have been doing this since for over 3 decades, Motif Handmade. Established in 1989, their work ‘empowers conscious designers to create custom handwoven fabrics using recycled and natural yarns, all ethically crafted through Fairtrade partnerships in Bangladesh’. It was amazing to hear about their work, most impressive was how their teams deconstruct waste textiles, meticuluously separating the yarns into different colours groups, and even creating colour matches to every single Pantone colour! They then provide courses for designers to create their own fabrics with these recycled yarns, which they can then purchase at low MOQs for their own collections, such a great option for small conscious brands and sustainable fashion start-ups.

Considering the current major  issue with waste in the fashion industry, it’s really exciting to see the potential in the use of re-purposed and recyled fabrics, particularly with options like the above, which are truly accessible to smaller brands. 

Are you looking to find out how you can use recycled fabrics and well-considered design for your brand?

Get in touch below to see how I can help!