In 2022, Creative Apparel will open a new state-of-the-art facility in Stockport, UK, a mile away from its current base. It is investing in full factory digitalisation where a central IT system drives and measures smart machinery, linking production through to customers and the supply chain.

Renewable energy sources including rainwater harvesting, solar power, wind turbines, air-source heating and eco fans will support the introduction of modern, high-tech machinery to enable a more sustainable approach to production.

As the COP26 United Nations climate change conference meets in Glasgow, the focus of the world is on how we live more sustainably

Established in 1988 as a two-person screen printing operation, Creative Apparel now employs over 80 people and produces around 50,000 items of clothing each week for the fast fashion industry, specialising in screen printing and embroidery.

Growth

Managing director Phil Millar believes putting technology at the heart of growth plans will increase turnover fourfold within five years and create 50 new high value jobs.

Productivity is forecast to increase by 30%, and waste is set to reduce by 20%, but crucially, the business will reduce the environmental and social impact of the clothes its makes.

 “The fast fashion industry suffers from a reputation as one of the most damaging to the environment due to the amount of waste generated during the production process and the throw-away nature of many of the products,” he said. “We want to help address that by becoming a leader for change in the sector and putting sustainability at the heart of our production processes.

“By introducing digital technology and tools that reduce waste and consume less energy we want to prove that you can help save the planet and money. Accessing support from Made Smarter is helping us accelerate faster towards our vision.”

Backing

Made Smarter, the UK government-led industry-backed technology adoption programme, has supported Creative Apparel with a £20,000 grant for a data and systems integration project that will automate and speed up the process of receiving orders right through to production management and dispatch.

The business has also secured a further £20,000 for a project which uses artificial intelligence (AI) tools to collect fashion data from social media influencers and other sources, enabling designers to respond quicker and more effectively to trends.

The company’s ongoing partnership with Made Smarter also includes taking advantage of its digital internship scheme, which matches undergraduates, masters and PhD students with manufacturers to work on live projects.

Since its launch in 2019 Made Smarter’s Adoption Programme in the North West has worked with more than 1,200 businesses, including many in the textile sector, offering expert, impartial technology advice, digital transformation workshops to help manufacturers take their first steps, a leadership programme, and funded digital technology internships.

£176 million

The programme has supported more than 200 technology projects which are forecast to deliver an additional £176 million in gross value added for the North West economy over the next three years, create over 920 new jobs, and upskill 1,764 existing roles.

“As the COP26 United Nations climate change conference meets in Glasgow, the focus of the world is on how we live more sustainably,” said Alain Dilworth, North West adoption programme manager at Made Smarter

 “As one of the biggest greenhouse gas-emitting sectors of the UK economy, the manufacturing industry has a vital role in reducing emissions. Digitalisation offers a huge opportunity for manufacturers to deliver operational efficiencies, decarbonise heat and power, optimise design and materials, and improve logistics and transport, benefitting their business, their bottom line and the environment.

“Creative Apparel is a fantastic example of a Made Smarter-supported business which has found the sustainability sweet spot between these economic, social, and environmental goals. It is keen to demonstrate what a future factory will look like and the breadth and scope of the entire project is visionary, bringing imaginative solutions to everyday problems.  I genuinely cannot wait to see this come to life and I hope this encourages other manufacturers to consider what digital can do for them.”

www.creativeapparel.co.uk

www.madesmarter.uk