Friday Thoughts: 03/07/ 2026
There are some weeks that remind you just how important connection and collaboration are.
Over the past couple of weeks, we’ve had the opportunity to move between conversations happening across Europe, from exploring the latest material innovations at Future Fabrics Expo, to experiencing the energy of London Climate Action Week, and on to France Licensing Day in Paris.
In between, we’ve also hosted partner events here in the UK, bringing together brands, retailers, manufacturers and solution providers.
Regardless of location, businesses are asking many of the same questions: how do we accelerate innovation, build stronger partnerships, and create products and business models fit for the future? The answers may differ, but the willingness to collaborate is becoming increasingly universal.
London Climate Action Week offered a powerful reminder that sustainability is no longer something we simply discuss in conference rooms. As more than 75,000 people gathered across the city, the soaring temperatures became a quiet but constant reminder that climate change is no longer a future challenge – it is shaping how we live, travel and do business today.
Yet despite the disruption, the conversations continued. If anything, they became more urgent, more practical and more focused on implementation.
That same sense of momentum continued at Future Fabrics Expo, where innovation was tangible. Walking the exhibition floor wasn’t simply about discovering new materials; it was about seeing how rapidly the industry is redesigning the building blocks of products themselves. From next-generation fibres and regenerative agriculture to recycled and lower-impact fibres, material innovation is accelerating at an incredible pace. But perhaps the biggest takeaway wasn’t just the materials themselves – it was the collaboration happening behind them.
Across the exhibition, businesses were openly sharing knowledge, challenges and solutions, recognising that transforming supply chains will require every part of the value chain to move together.
There was a clear recognition throughout both events that innovation alone isn’t enough. New materials only create impact when designers specify them, manufacturers can source them, retailers support them and consumers embrace them.
It reinforced something we speak about often at Products of Change: no single organisation can solve these challenges alone.
That spirit of collaboration continued into France Licensing Day.
There is something special about stepping into a room dedicated to bringing an industry together, and Paris did exactly that, creating space for the conversations that will help shape the future of licensing.
We were delighted to spend time with our French members while making many new connections across the wider licensing community.
What stood out most was the openness. Whilst every market is navigating different legislation, different consumer expectations and different commercial pressures, there was a shared recognition that the future will be built through collaboration rather than competition.
Whether discussing circular design, packaging, materials, data or new business models, the ambition was remarkably consistent: creating products, partnerships and businesses that are fit for the future.
Yesterday provided another reminder of exactly why we do what we do.
We welcomed Products of Change members to London for a behind-the-scenes tour of the LaundRe facility, where businesses both large and small had the opportunity to see first-hand the incredible innovation happening across denim application, care, repair and circular solutions. It was inspiring to watch conversations unfold between organisations that may never otherwise have crossed paths, each bringing different perspectives but united by a shared ambition to create positive change.
At the beginning of this year, we made a commitment to connect our community more often – not just online, but in person. To create spaces where people could learn from one another, ask questions, challenge thinking and build the relationships that will ultimately help move our industry forward.
Looking back over the first half of 2026, it feels as though we’ve truly delivered on that promise. Every visit, workshop, roundtable and site tour has reinforced the value of bringing people together.
As we head towards the summer, it feels as though our industry is entering a new phase. The conversation is evolving from why sustainability matters to how we deliver it together.
As many of us prepare to take a well-earned break, spending precious time with family and friends, it’s also an opportunity to pause and reflect. The conversations we’ve shared over recent weeks are a reminder that whilst the challenges ahead remain significant, so too does the determination, creativity and generosity of this community.
That sense of purpose is what continues to drive us. Because real change doesn’t happen through legislation, innovation or ambition alone. It happens when people come together with a willingness to listen, collaborate and act.
Thank you to everyone who has joined us over the past few weeks, whether at an international event, one of our member sessions or simply through a conversation along the way. Every connection strengthens this incredible community and reminds us why Products of Change exists.
We can’t wait to see what the second half of 2026 will bring (BLE in October and our very own POC Conference on the 11th of November).
Until next Friday, keep connecting, keep collaborating and keep creating positive change.
Wishing everyone a wonderful weekend,
Helena, Nicola and Team POC
