Textile Forum a two day trade show is London's most exclusive fashion fabric show, aimed at designers, small to medium sized manufacturers, dressmakers and retail fabric specialists looking for high quality fashion fabrics from UK and Continental mills. The Textile Forum opened up yesterday, March 4 at London’s One Marylebone and will continue till March 5. Buyers and designers from Ireland, Finland, Denmark, Italy and Slovakia made up an increasing international presence on the first day of trade show.

Now in its 13th year, the show saw visitor numbers rise by 10% on March 2014, according to pre-registrations, ranging from small designers and students to bridalwear buyers, sportwear brands and couture labels.

Approximately 95% of the 50 collections on show were from the UK, with a minority from Japan, France and Belgium. Two new exhibitors for the spring season are Japanese print company Nunoya and UK occasionwear and embellished fabric specialist Chrisanne.

It was a busy first morning for fine worsted cloth weaver Holland & Sherry. They got to see a mixture of buyers, designers, tailors and start-up businesses asking about the key colours for the spring 15 season, said sales administrator Hasnaa Nabeebocus.

Exhibiting at Textile Forum helps lace specialist Alan Litman connect with designers, boutiques and small concession labels it might not meet at other shows. This kind of customer is always interested in what their minimums are and tend to buy between 3 metres up to 30 metres, said sales manager Dean Marriott.

Lancashire-based Acorn Fabrics uses Textile Forum to meet small designers outside its usual made-to-measure shirtmaking clientele. It’s really good to diversify and meet young emerging designers who are using our fabric in new and innovative ways, said director James Chatburn