ImagesMagUK_November_2021

Fespa took place in May in Berlin www.images-magazine.com 28 images NOVEMBER 2021 KB INDUSTRY EVENT Schoolwear Show 2021: Review Images headed up the M40 to visit the first Schoolwear Show for two years, in search of new products and to discover how the sector is faring The Tie & Scarf Company , which has launched a stock tie ordering service that promises next-day delivery, has had its busiest September ever, reported Barry Chaytow. He is “very optimistic” for the coming year, and notes that clip-on ties are becoming increasingly popular. The company also now offers a 100% recycled polyester tie range. At uniform manufacturer Trutex , the focus was on sustainability, explained Rowena Allen. The company has drilled down into its packaging, reducing the amount of plastic used for each shirt while keeping them retail-friendly: cardboard is now used to support collars instead of a plastic insert, for example, and the bags are biodegradable. All of its blazers apart from the marl style are made from 100% recycled polyester, and recycled material is used in the trousers and skirts too. All the changes have been cost- neutral, ie there is no increase in price for the decorator, added Rowena. W ith just under 30 exhibitors appearing at the Schoolwear Show in Solihull this October, the hall could have felt quite empty compared to other years – instead, it felt just right. Stands were spacious, well-stocked and busy, visitors were moving easily from one pre-booked appointment to the next, and there was an upbeat, cheerful atmosphere. Despite the troubles of the past 18 months or more – from schools closing to rising shipping container prices via stock delays and difficult to predict ordering patterns – there was a sense of optimism in the room, helped by being able to talk to industry colleagues in person for the first time in many months. Freight issues were a hot topic: with the high cost of shipping containers and delays to deliveries continuing to cause problems, many brands were emphasising their commitment to expanding their UK stockholding, as well as highlighting the need for schoolwear suppliers to make the public fully aware of the issues that all companies importing goods from overseas are facing. If there was one trend to take away from the show, it was that sustainability has gone mainstream. From Trutex’s new recycled polyester blazers and reduced packaging to Banner’s commitment to 100% of its garments being made from eco materials by 2025, green issues were high on everyone’s agenda.