ImagesMagUK_Digital_Edition_March_2018

INDUSTRY NEWS www.images-magazine.com 12 images MARCH 2018 Meet the Manufacturer changes its name; announces 2018 dates Meet the Manufacturer, the annual trade show that launched five years ago and says it is the “only 100% British sourcing event”, is changing its name this year to Make it British Live! “Our new name, Make it British Live!, reflects the essence of the Make it British campaign and is a stronger reflection of our core values, to encourage more people to buy British and manufacture in the UK,” explained founder Kate Hills. “We’re confident that our rebrand will be the fanfare to attract even more progressive businesses looking to source locally and re-shore their production back to the UK.” Businesses from garment manufacturers and textile mills to pattern cutters and trimming suppliers will be showcasing at the two-day event in May; a programme of talks and workshops will also be taking place. Make it British Live! is on 23-24 May 2018 at The Old Truman Brewery, London. www.makeitbritishlive.com Fespa designs new Print Make Wear fashion factory feature Visitors to Fespa Global Print Expo 2018 in Berlin, Germany, in May, will be able to enjoy a new interactive visitor feature called Print Make Wear that replicates a fast fashion factory. Print Make Wear, which is free to Fespa visitors, will take the form of a live production environment, highlighting every step in the screen and digital printing production process, from initial design to finished product. It will include a screen printing carousel, washing and drying equipment, digital direct-to- garment printing, cutting and sewing, and solutions for welding and embellishment. Brands contributing to the feature include Premier Textiles, MagnaColours, Brother, Juki and Vastex. A live catwalk will also take place, with the garments being designed by Sandra Zomer from The Netherlands, who works for British fashion designer Julien MacDonald. Daily seminar sessions will also take place at Print Make Wear, from screen making to fabric challenges. To pre-register to attend Fespa Global Print Expo 2018, which takes place on 15-18 May, visit www.fespaglobalprintexpo. com. For free entry, use the code TXTM801. www.fespa.com Print Make Wear will take place at Fespa 2018 in Berlin in May Mary Queen of Shops to speak at Sign & Digital UK Retail consultant and broadcaster Mary Portas, aka Mary Queen of Shops, has been announced as the guest speaker at Sign & Digital UK in Birmingham NEC in April this year. Mary will deliver a keynote speech on 24 April 2018, the opening day of the three-day show, and will follow it with a Q&A session. Rudi Blackett, event director at SDUK, said: “Mary Portas’s continued advocacy for independent retailers and the manufacturing industry makes her a truly inspiring guest speaker for our show visitors and exhibitors alike.” Mary Portas added: “I’m always excited to discover new emerging techniques from retail, sign and display industries which will be a big part of Sign and Digital UK. The merging of digital and traditional manufacturing techniques is now more important than ever before, and I hope to open a discussion about how these trends will impact SMEs in the modern retail landscape at April’s event. “With my Sign & Digital UK audience, I will aim to cultivate a new confidence in diversification. I look forward to rallying with business leaders from these adapting sectors and offering advice among small business owners who are looking to explore ways of getting ahead of their competitors.” www.signuk.com Mary Portas will be speaking at Sign & Digital UK this April