Future Fashion Factory - Digitally Enabled Design & Manufacture of Designer Products for Circular Economies

Lead Research Organisation: University of Leeds
Department Name: Sch of Design

Abstract

The fashion design industry contributes £28bn or £50bn including indirect contributions, to the UK economy with a growing workforce of nearly 900,000 making it one of the largest creative industries in the country.

This is an industry-led challenge in which designers will lead a highly creative process of applying, co-developing and implementing new textile and industrial digital technologies (IDTs) in collaboration with supply chain manufacturers and other technology experts, in the high value luxury textile and fashion sector. The R&D cluster will deliver exciting new creative innovation opportunities, new products, shorter product development and design lead times, reduced costs, and substantially increase global industrial competitiveness and productivity.

The research focuses on developing new creative design processes, products, service and business models, linked to two key themes: 1. Digitally Connected and Sustainable Processes. 2. Digital Communication and Data Analytics.

The R&D in both themes will also feed in to the creation of new fashion design degree and industrial apprenticeship programmes to address a skills gap in the industry for multidisciplinary STEAM-based designers, that possess a unique combination of art, design, science and technology competencies.

Planned Impact

Lead time, between design and the finished product, currently limits growth in the luxury fashion sector. This is particularly acute beyond the small number of vertically integrated companies in the sector. The Future Fashion Factory R&D Partnership will develop interventions to refine every stage of the new product development (NPD) process and shorten the time required to finalise design decisions thus reducing risk. This addresses the need to increase the flexibility and agility of fashion designers (independents and employed) within the interconnected supply chain of fibre suppliers, textile and clothing manufacturers, wholesaling, retailing, brand marketing and advertising and the converging industries engaged in digital and textile technologies. Consumers will have their demand for high quality personalised luxury clothing met. Additional beneficiaries are students and apprentices engaged in training and education.
In the near term, the initial partners and their supply chains will benefit significantly (see below). However, given the wider relevance of the research challenge to the industry, we will disseminate and engage beyond the immediate geographic cluster through established relationships with the UK Fashion & Textile Association (UKFT) and the British Fashion Council (BFC).
Within 0-3 years of engagement: 1. Transition to a continuous creative output cycle rather than the current seasonal approach; 2. More rapid NPD process; with the potential to reduce lead times from the current 4-8 month average in the luxury segment to around 3 months (much closer to the fast fashion lead time of 6-8 weeks but without the transport timescales of bringing finished garments from their offshore production sites).3. Reduction in lead time will generate similar improvements in productivity, reduction in stock-holding, reduced risk of stock running out, smoother cash flows and reduced cost in the NPD process. It is estimated that the reductions in lead time that are envisaged will translate into a potential doubling of profit.
Within 3-5 years of engagement:
1. Reduced waste and cost arising from iterative sampling and the manufacture of textiles and garments prior to retail, achieved by recycling/upcycling the waste back into high value garments and by using digital iterations (minutes and zero material cost) rather than physical iterations (many hours, raw material and asset/operator waste). We estimate that this will reduce development costs by 15-20%, which will translate into increased manufacturing and retail margins; 2. Greater flexibility and responsiveness in the NPD process, with designers able to digitally link to manufacturing assets to produce customised product design ranges. This will increase the potential for new label start-ups as up-front costs will be less;
3. New products and business models from greater connectivity of digital communication systems and manufacturing processes. Digital communication systems will enhance the customer experience in online channels providing a significant boost for small labels who sell exclusively via this channel. Labels, with online and physical channels, will be able introduce products to the online channel that currently would not sell well in this environment as customers will be able to 'feel' and interact with a virtual product which accurately mimics its physical manifestation; 4. New UG, PG and apprenticeship programmes for multidisciplinary 21st Century designers.
Within 5-10 years: 1. Opportunities to increase re-shoring of textile and fashion operations to the UK leading to an increase in high skilled jobs; 2. Shorter local UK supply chains, with the potential to cut lead times even further than the short term target above to weeks. This will further protect and grow the UK's luxury fashion sector; 3. Stronger, more resilient and innovative UK luxury fashion sector resulting from the full implantation of new textile and digital technologies.

Organisations

 
Title Bespoke printed silk and jacquard woven scarf - MIT (January 2020) 
Description Delegates from countries including Australia, the USA, Denmark, China and Norway visited the Leeds City Region as part of a prestigious programme led by the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT). The MIT Regional Entrepreneurship Accelerator Program (MIT-REAP) provides expert guidance to support regions to accelerate economic growth. This visit took place in January 2020 and to commemorate the occasion FFF commissioned, in liaison with AW Hainsworth & Sons Ltd, a scarf as a gift for members of the delegation. This scarf incorporated fabric woven as part of the FFF Responsive R&D Call 1 project (project applicants: AW Hainsworth & Yorkshire Textiles) and printed silk displaying an historic map of the Leeds - Pudsey area, printing & scarf manufacture was done by FFF network member The Silk Bureau. https://www.awhainsworth.co.uk/ https://www.silkbureau.co.uk/ 
Type Of Art Artefact (including digital) 
Year Produced 2020 
Impact The bespoke gift was very well received by MIT delegates and stimulated a huge amount of discussion around the FFF programme during the course of the visit, as did the tour of the AW Hinsworth facilities which was part of an arranged programme of activity. The innovation in short-run jacquard weaving that was developed and piloted during the Responsive R&D project has been embedded within AW Hainsworth as part of their sustainable manufacturing process. 
URL https://futurefashionfactory.org/mit-reap-hainsworth/
 
Title Brotherton Circle - FFF Core Research 
Description Future Fashion Factory - Core Research Theme (digital asset) Video clips illustrating a range of developed expertise in response to industry-focused sectoral challenge Filmed on 25th August 2021. 
Type Of Art Film/Video/Animation 
Year Produced 2021 
Impact An important asset, developed to illustrate progress made and to make the Core Research more accessible to industrial partners. 
URL https://futurefashionfactory.org/
 
Title Concept Garment - Jennifer Koch, working with post consumer recycled wool yarn from Iinouiio Ltd 
Description The RCA and FFF facilitated a collaboration between Iinouiio, a new UK based mechanical recycling centre and fashion design graduates from RCA. The aim was to explore the potential for circular processes to be established between design and re-manufacture and challenge the future material innovations designers envisage through working with recycled wool. Outputs will be shown digitally during a stakeholder workshop to demonstrate the possibilities for fashion designers engaging with Iinouiio. 
Type Of Art Artefact (including digital) 
Year Produced 2021 
Impact Continuing relationship between designer and manufacturer 
 
Title Concept Garment - Lee Hurst, working with post consumer recycled wool fabric from Iinouiio Ltd 
Description The RCA and FFF facilitated a collaboration between Iinouiio, a new UK based mechanical recycling centre and fashion design graduates from RCA. The aim was to explore the potential for circular processes to be established between design and re-manufacture and challenge the future material innovations designers envisage through working with recycled wool. Outputs will be shown digitally during a stakeholder workshop to demonstrate the possibilities for fashion designers engaging with Iinouiio. 
Type Of Art Artefact (including digital) 
Year Produced 2021 
Impact Continued relationship between Mill and Designer 
 
Title Cotton Connections: From India to the High Street 
Description Cotton Connections: From India to the High Street looks at 300 years of cotton's role in fashion and textiles through a beautiful series of textiles and clothing from India and Europe. Inviting visitors to think about cotton's unique influence on the evolution of fashion, identity, trade, and the environment, the exhibition in Lotherton's fashion gallery features a series of stunning wall hangings, historic dresses and contemporary uniforms. Also on display is a collection of garments worn by Indian farmers and factory workers who worked in the cotton fields and factories supplied by the AHRC project. Cotton Connections was been co-curated with The Cotton Detectives, a group of 14-24-year-old volunteers based at Leeds Art Gallery, with support and research from the Cotton Hidden Voices project 
Type Of Art Artistic/Creative Exhibition 
Year Produced 2023 
Impact The exhibition had 42,700 visitors. 
URL https://ahc.leeds.ac.uk/design/news/article/2380/cotton-s-common-threads-entwined-in-new-exhibition
 
Title Darning: how to 
Description short video explaining how to darn clothing for the 'Be Curious' festival 
Type Of Art Film/Video/Animation 
Year Produced 2020 
Impact it was used as a template for Zero Waste Leeds in their own endeaviurs for Leeds Future Fashion project which is being developed with the RSA where they are encouraging the public to participate with their own videos of repair techniques for clothes. 
URL https://universityofleeds.padlet.org/BeCurious/2020
 
Title Designer garment - Ben Osborn, working with light-weight wool worsted from Dormeuil Ltd 
Description FFF arranged a collaboration between a number of FFF network members to support Wool Week 2020. Yorkshire Mills engaged with RCA graduate designers to produce bespoke garments showcasing the possibilities that exist for high quality wool manufacture in the UK. Outputs were shown digitally by FFF member BrandLab in a virtual showroom. Designer: Ben Osborn. An exploration of gestural forms through an architectural approach to cutting, considering body shapes, postures and poses. A particular interest in form and proportion, utilising a technical approach to garment construction and taking reference from historical tailoring and uniforms. Mill: The history of The House of Dormeuil is interwoven with the constant search for the rare and luxurious. Dominic Dormeuil explores breeding farms around the world each year to select the most precious fibres and produce exceptional fabrics. https://www.dormeuil.com/en/heritage/expertise/ Ben produced a uni-sex tailored jacket in travel resistant light-weight wool worsted. 
Type Of Art Artefact (including digital) 
Year Produced 2020 
Impact Please refer back to Wool Week 2020 promotional activity. There is also a continuing relationship between the Mill & Designer which is expected to bear more fruit in the future. 
URL https://www.rca.ac.uk/students/ben-osborn/
 
Title Designer garment - Danielle Elsner, working with light-weight wool worsted from John Foster Ltd 
Description FFF arranged a collaboration between a number of FFF network members to support Wool Week 2020. Yorkshire Mills engaged with RCA graduate designers to produce bespoke garments showcasing the possibilities that exist for high quality wool manufacture in the UK. Outputs were shown digitally by FFF member BrandLab in a virtual showroom. Designer: Danielle Elsener. Elsener has dedicated her life's work to proving zero-waste as a valid and robust design model. For over a decade, she has learned from industry, educational institutions, and self-run initiatives to understand how best to do this. What began as a love for puzzle solving through zero-waste pattern-making, became a way to fix the fashion industry's biggest problem. Mill: John Foster Ltd. In 1819, the John Foster story of producing the world's finest worsted cloths from luxurious merino wool, mohair, alpaca, cashmere and silk began. At the age of 21 he started to revolutionise the textile industry. In 1835, Mr. Foster erected a mill in Black Dyke, Queensbury, on the site of a family farmstead. This mill became known as 'Black Dyke Mills', and was the foundation upon which John Foster's immense business was built. John Foster cloths have been at the centre of world fashion since they won their first awards at the Great Exhibition of 1851. Today John Foster continues to weave mohair, cashmere and worsted made from the highest quality merino wool, as well as other noble fibres, into luxury fabric for the finest couturiers, fashion houses, designers, tailors and retailers across the globe. Danielle created shirt, shorts & jacket from super-light 100's wool and mohair twill. 
Type Of Art Artefact (including digital) 
Year Produced 2020 
Impact Please refer back to Wool Week 2020 promotional activity. There is also a continuing relationship between the Mill & Designer which is expected to bear more fruit in the future. 
URL https://www.rca.ac.uk/news-and-events/news/rca-student-wins-50000-grant-sustainable-design/
 
Title Designer garment - Jennifer Koch, working with natural-coloured Sheepsoft yarn from Laxtons Ltd 
Description FFF arranged a collaboration between a number of FFF network members to support Wool Week 2020. Yorkshire Mills engaged with RCA graduate designers to produce bespoke garments showcasing the possibilities that exist for high quality wool manufacture in the UK. Outputs were shown digitally by FFF member BrandLab in a virtual showroom. Jennifer's pattern designers are available from the Laxtons website. Designer: Jennifer Koch. My collection is inspired by asian stereotypes and assumptions towards east asian cultures. While growing up in Germany, I realised that there are people who believe that there's an over all asian culture, or that China, Korea and Japan are the same. Mill: After re-shoring 100% of our manufacturing in December 2009, we have managed to invest in additional manufacturing capacity over the previous 7 years. As a result, we outgrew our old premises and have built a state-of-the-art new spinning mill not only increasing our capacity with new machinery but also our capability in being able to offer an even more diverse range of yarns for many different markets and end uses. We recently moved into our new premises and are looking forward to showcasing what is possible in our new factory. 
Type Of Art Artefact (including digital) 
Year Produced 2020 
Impact Please refer back to Wool Week 2020 promotional activity. There is also a continuing relationship between the Mill & Designer which is expected to bear more fruit in the future. 
URL https://www.rca.ac.uk/students/jennifer-koch/
 
Title Designer garment - Lee Hurst with bespoke jacquard cloth from AW Hainsworth Ltd 
Description FFF arranged a collaboration between a number of FFF network members to support Wool Week 2020. Yorkshire Mills engaged with RCA graduate designers to produce bespoke garments showcasing the possibilities that exist for high quality wool manufacture in the UK. Outputs were shown digitally by FFF member BrandLab in a virtual showroom. Designer: Lee Hurst, born and raised Liverpudlian, specialist in tailoring. Graduate from the BA Womenswear course at Central Saint Martins, with recent experience working in Haute Couture for brands such as Iris Van Herpen and Christian Dior. Mill: A specialist textile company, AW Hainsworth has been an unrivalled market leader for over 230 years. From the time Abimelech William Hainsworth started manufacturing woollen cloth in Yorkshire in 1783, investing in our people and maintaining strong partnerships with customers and suppliers have been the cornerstones of our success. 
Type Of Art Artefact (including digital) 
Year Produced 2020 
Impact Please refer back to Wool Week 2020 promotional activity. There is also a continuing relationship between the Mill & Designer which is expected to bear more fruit in the future. 
URL https://2020.rca.ac.uk/students/lee-hurst/
 
Title Designer garment - The Array, working with indigo lambswool denim from Joshua Ellis & Co Ltd 
Description FFF arranged a collaboration between a number of FFF network members to support Wool Week 2020. Yorkshire Mills engaged with RCA graduate designers to produce bespoke garments showcasing the possibilities that exist for high quality wool manufacture in the UK. Outputs were shown digitally by FFF member BrandLab in a virtual showroom. Designer: Royal College of Art MA Fashion graduates Yvonne Lim and Shaonan Xu launched The Array, a London-based womenswear label inspired by working women, in December 2020. The label is an elevated extension of their 2019 graduate collection, which was about celebrating and empowering the working woman. Upon graduation, they were accepted into the Creative Brand Accelerator program within the College's start-up incubator, InnovationRCA to continue developing The Array brand. Mill: Joshua Ellis was established as a clothier by the Ellis family in 1767 and diversified into woollen textile manufacturing a few years later. Since then it has only been owned by 3 families having been bought by the family owned Bradford based SIL Group in 2007. Our primary focus as custodians of Joshua Ellis is to protect the working lives of our 60 employees and ensure that we maintain our reputation for quality so it is ready for the next 250 years. 
Type Of Art Artefact (including digital) 
Year Produced 2020 
Impact Please refer back to Wool Week 2020 promotional activity. There is also a continuing relationship between the Mill & Designer which is expected to bear more fruit in the future. 
URL https://londonfashionweek.co.uk/designers/the-array
 
Title Designer garment - The Array, working with turquoise doeskin from AW Hainsworth Ltd 
Description Re-making of coat produced originally for their Graduate show in AWH signature doeskin. 
Type Of Art Artefact (including digital) 
Year Produced 2020 
Impact This outcome is the result of an introduction of The Array designers, by FFF Co-Director to AW Hainsworth, this arising from attendance at an RCA event and then follow up at the MIT REAP visit (January 2020) 
URL https://londonfashionweek.co.uk/designers/the-array
 
Title Designer garment simulation / virtual garment designs - Nomad Atelier 
Description Digital output from FFF Responsive R&D Call 2. Digital design/animation of jacket from Nomad Atelier collection. 
Type Of Art Film/Video/Animation 
Year Produced 2021 
Impact Demonstration of the possibilities of 3D digital technology for small independent brands, using CLO-3D. 
URL https://www.nomadatelier.co.uk/
 
Title Digitally Decoded Heritage Cloth 
Description Collaborative R&D project supported by Future Fashion Factory decoded historic jacquard punch cards from Leeds Industrial Museum into a digital format enabling high speed woven fabric manufacture in the UK of 'heritage designs' for use by fashion designers. This has enabled unique 'New Heritage' fabrics to be made in the UK in partnership with Yorkshire Textiles and AW Hainsworth, as well as providing access to a new source of design inspiration. 
Type Of Art Artefact (including digital) 
Year Produced 2019 
Impact A new designer-led short run production service for bespoke fabrics, and the capability to access and manufacture historic textile designs for luxury fashion ranges. 
URL https://futurefashionfactory.org/event/new-heritage-historic-textiles/
 
Title Digitising jacquard punch cards to create designs for modern jacquard looms. FFF Responsive R&D Call 1 project, AW Hainsworth & Yorkshire Textiles 
Description "A short film showcasing our recent Future Fashion Factory project in collaboration with Yorkshire Textiles. Watch our very own Rebecca Ough as she tells the story of the project, from examining the historic jacquard punch card designs held at Leeds Industrial Museum through to seeing the finished product come to life." Quote from the AW Hainsworth FaceBook page. https://www.facebook.com/AWHainsworth/videos/future-fashion-factory/825791457873857/ https://futurefashionfactory.org/hainsworth-yorkshire-textiles-new-heritage/ https://vimeo.com/368473249 https://www.facebook.com/campaignforwool/videos/yorkshire-mill-aw-hainsworth-and-yorkshire-textiles-have-collaborated-on-a-uniqu/801375886947114/ 
Type Of Art Film/Video/Animation 
Year Produced 2019 
Impact Digitising jacquard punch cards to create designs for modern jacquard looms. FFF Responsive R&D Call 1 project, AW Hainsworth & Yorkshire Textiles. This project went on to have a great impact for AW Hainsworth who introduced a short run bespoke weaving service for their clients. This addressing the issues designers have in commissioning affordable bespoke fabrics whilst also helping to tackle over production and excessive waste issues which have been identified as key areas of waste & environmental impact for the sector. This video has been a very influential output from FFF and has been picked up for use by other partners and press, some of which have been shown above. Rebecca Ough has gone on to form her own business which has also been recorded as an FFF outcome. 
URL https://futurefashionfactory.org/hainsworth-yorkshire-textiles-new-heritage/
 
Title Excess stock reselling 
Description Digital jigsaw using image taken in Colombo in Sri Lanka of reselling childrenswear and babywear (very popular). Manufacturers often sell garments that were surplus to requirement or didn't sell and these are resold to the public. 
Type Of Art Film/Video/Animation 
Year Produced 2020 
Impact this was part of the Be Curious Research Festival and the twitter feed received 150k impressions/views of the messages. 
URL https://universityofleeds.padlet.org/BeCurious/2020
 
Title FFF Call 2 Responsive R&D - Something Wicked Ltd, project outcomes 
Description Something Wicked has been producing luxury hand-crafted lingerie at its base in Leeds since 2016. Harnessing the skills of talented local makers has been at the heart of the company's strategy: supporting the talent pipeline in the region, the company also welcomes placement students from the University of Huddersfield's fashion and costume programmes. "Local, traceable manufacturing is a vital part of our story," explains Steff McGrath, Managing Director at Something Wicked. "The appetite for UK-made luxury products is growing, and that presents us with a lot of opportunities." With plans to extend the brand's reach in e-commerce and increasing numbers of enquiries, it became clear Something Wicked would need to upscale its production capacity to meet demand. The challenge was how to do this while keeping the creative skills of individuals, so integral to the company's ethos, at the heart of the process. Collaborating with Claire Evans, Senior Lecturer at the University of Huddersfield, the brand developed an innovative human-centred design process - identifying digital tools and technologies that streamline manufacturing not by reducing human input, but by supporting the individuals that drive the process. The full case study can be viewed at: https://futurefashionfactory.org/something-wicked-digital-tools-to-upscale-hand-crafted-lingerie/ 
Type Of Art Film/Video/Animation 
Year Produced 2020 
Impact A culmination of the Call 2 Responsive R&D project, this short film was developed to highlight the impact of the project on the company and the importance of the research process to those involved. 
URL https://youtu.be/ArcnRnsumFA
 
Title FFF R&D Call 3 Project - Future Coloration Sample Series 
Description The use of colour for fashion and textiles from either natural or synthetic sources is widely criticised for water, chemical and energy use during manufacturing stages. Colour and pattern are key drivers for desirability driving sales by consumers, yet there is a lack of industry innovation for future sustainable coloration processes. Rather than aiming to replicate the availability, the technical performance and aesthetic appearance of synthetic dyes, this cross discipline project led by Professor Richard Blackburn from the University of Leeds and Dr Dawn Ellams from the Royal college of art collaborated with fashion brand Rose Danford-Phillips to explore the chemistry of natural sources of pigments to be used within a holistic life cycle approach to investigate the new properties and aesthetic exploitation opportunities of a future sustainable printing system. Researchers from the Royal College of art explored the practical application and creative possibilities of the developed natural pigments on cellulosic and protein fibres, trialling through screen printing techniques. A series of samples using the developed aesthetic, supply and production processes was created demonstrated the colour pallet, effects of over laying colours. 
Type Of Art Artefact (including digital) 
Year Produced 2021 
Impact The creative print trial and practice-based element of this cross discipline collaboration identified limitations in the colours achievable, impurities present in the pigments and the interesting effects and reactions between PH of pigment and substrate. Questions around the technical performance and possibilities to expand on the colour pallet were raised that could lead to further discipline inquiry. The samples produced directly informed the ideation of a fashion collection by Rose Danford-Phillips that would use the developed pigments for manufacture if created at commercial scale. 
URL https://futurefashionfactory.org/funded-projects/rose-danford-phillips/
 
Title Future Fashion Factory - Animated Whiteboard 
Description University of Leeds provided funding for the development of an animated whiteboard to help communicate Future Fashion Factory Programme objectives to a wider audience. 
Type Of Art Film/Video/Animation 
Year Produced 2020 
Impact Use within FFF promotional activity as appropriate. 
 
Title Future Fashion Factory, promotional video 
Description The Future Fashion Factory is an industry-led collaborative research project linking the textile design and manufacturing centres within the Leeds City Region with the creative design and retail centre of London. It brings together expertise from ten core industry partners, with many more forming a wider network spanning design, manufacturing and retail in the UK. The project involves collaboration with the Universities of Leeds, Huddersfield and the Royal College of Art as well as the Centre for Textile Excellence in Yorkshire. This short film outlines FFF aspirations and industry-led ethos. 
Type Of Art Film/Video/Animation 
Year Produced 2019 
Impact This video was the first produced by the Future Fashion Factory programme, originally available in late 2018 this version in an update with added input from core FFF network partner Burberry. One of the main pieces of dissemination collateral generated for the FFF programme this has helped greatly to spread the word about FFF and the main CICP programme in the Fashion & Textile sector. 
URL https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mevml7hkRyQ
 
Title Innovative nonwovens from garment waste 
Description A range of nonwoven materials made from old garments bonded together using novel binder technologies. These were created as technology demonstrators related to a FFF responsive R&D project. 
Type Of Art Artefact (including digital) 
Year Produced 2023 
Impact Produce a new product line for the company involved. 
URL https://futurefashionfactory.org/innovation/rd-funding-calls/
 
Title Josefin Wanner - Zero Waste Competition (runner up) 
Description Zero Waste competition entries, a collection based on zero waste ethos, remaking from secondhand or damaged clothing. Even most of the thread used to manufacture new garments is reclaimed. 1/2 day 360 degree product photoshoot. 
Type Of Art Artefact (including digital) 
Year Produced 2020 
Impact 360 degree photograph is in use on Josefin's website. 
URL https://www.wannerlabel.com/
 
Title LEEP 1 project via the University of Leeds Partnership impact Project (PiP) 
Description Working with a local charity (LEEP 1) which supports resources for learning difficulties to develop a transactional website for the group who have designed a range of sweatshirts and t-shirts as merchandise to raise money for the charity. Created a marketing stratgy for a fashion show related to this activity (June 2019) and this is follow on activity. 
Type Of Art Artefact (including digital) 
Year Produced 2019 
Impact The transactional website is an outcome of the original intervention supporting the fashion show. 
URL https://leep1.co.uk/
 
Title Short film. Patrick Grant / Community Clothing. 
Description Patrick Grant on Community Clothing and Future Fashion Factory Short film developed with Patrick Grant, a Leeds alumni and strong supporter of the FFF network, designed to highlight how the fashion & textile manufacturing ecosystems works and how people can "choose to live differently with [their] clothing" 
Type Of Art Film/Video/Animation 
Year Produced 2022 
Impact This film has been very influential, helping highlighting challenges within the fashion & textile global ecosystem. 
URL https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tahU__325eY
 
Title Smart Last 
Description RCA Researchers worked with the Vivobarefoot team analysing huge volumes of footwear data to quantify the science behind barefoot biomechanics. With this knowledge in place, they were able to develop an unprecedented 'smart last' - a digital equivalent of the forms used to guide footwear design that can be adapted to customise new products. By facilitating digital design, it will also reduce the number of physical samples being made by the company for each product, creating less waste than traditional processes. 
Type Of Art Artefact (including digital) 
Year Produced 2021 
Impact Questions about the skills that fashion and textile professionals will need in an increasingly digital sector. The project is feeding into teaching at RCA, having highlighted how the curriculum could better reflect a changing industry. The radical new data-driven design tool, simpler manufacturing and new insights into end-of-life processes and service design are being explored, the project's success has built a firm foundation for new product offerings. 
URL https://futurefashionfactory.org/digital-design-and-circular-systems-for-custom-sustainable-footwear...
 
Title Something Wicked, digital equipment to empower staff within the production process. FFF Responsive R&D Call 2. 
Description A Case Study featurette from, Something Wicked, detailing a collaborative project in which we examined the ways digital equipment could empower staff at each stage of the production process. This Yorkshire-based member of the FFF network was a recipient of Responsive R&D funding in Call 2 and worked closely with academic partner Claire Evans from the University of Huddersfield. The video can be viewed as part of the case study write up on the FFF website or on YouTube. https://futurefashionfactory.org/something-wicked-digital-tools-to-upscale-hand-crafted-lingerie/ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ArcnRnsumFA 
Type Of Art Film/Video/Animation 
Year Produced 2020 
Impact The Responsive R&D project made a great difference to the productivity of Something Wicked's manufacturing line and has been fundamental in their ability to now offer high quality commission CMT. 
URL https://futurefashionfactory.org/something-wicked-digital-tools-to-upscale-hand-crafted-lingerie/
 
Title Zero Waste Fashion Competition - Cunnington & Sanderson (Director's Choice Award) 
Description Collection of garments submitted to the Zero Waste competition. Cunnington & Sanderson submitted garments using a zero-waste draping approach. The competition prize was a half day 360 degree product phootshot 
Type Of Art Artefact (including digital) 
Year Produced 2020 
Impact The 360 degree photography is in use on the Cunnington & Sanderson website (home page) and was also used on the Joor platform during their residency on this e-retail platform. 
URL https://www.cunningtonandsanderson.com/
 
Title Zero Waste Fashion Competition: Upcycle Fashion (competition winner) 
Description Phootshot of Upcycle Fashion garments created using zero waste design ethos, creation of new garments from upcycled vintage textiles (i.e. skirt made from silk ties) Competition prize was a 360 degree product photography. 
Type Of Art Artefact (including digital) 
Year Produced 2020 
Impact Upcycle Fashion/Julia Roebuck has used the 360 degree photography as part of her online workshops & social media promotion. Also used in the KTN event promoted by Future Fashion Factory in October 2020. 
URL https://www.upcycle-fashion.co.uk/about
 
Description Future Fashion Factory (FFF) is an industry-led collaborative R&D programme addressing the innovation needs of the fashion and textile industry. FFF's industrial membership has grown to 573 organisations (SMEs, micros and PLCs) drawn from across the supply chain, with a wider network of >5,200. FFF is developing new creative processes and products capable of increasing the agility, competitiveness, and sustainability of the UK's industry. In addition to core research developing new technical capabilities to support the industry, FFF has supported 55 collaborative R&D projects from its Responsive R&D Calls 1-6, leading to 45 new technologies, processes and methods that are embedding within applicant companies. Projects involve the development of new digitally driven creative processes harnessing AI and machine learning, new sustainable textile materials, reduced waste, new manufacturing processes and new methods of immersive communication of fashion and textile products. The FFF Programme is also forging new collaborative ventures between start-up fashion designers and UK textile manufacturers, leading to the design and manufacture of high value products. Examples of work supported by the FFF Programme in the year from March 2023 to March 2024 are provided below.
Industrial Collaborations / Events
https://futurefashionfactory.org/sustainable-transition-fund/
https://futurefashionfactory.org/ifsf/
https://futurefashionfactory.org/awh-a-tool-to-digitally-communicate-aesthetics/
https://futurefashionfactory.org/dp-dyers-digital-technologies-to-support-more-sustainable-bulk-production/
https://futurefashionfactory.org/durability-meets-innovation-in-conductive-printing-technology/
https://futurefashionfactory.org/laxtons-bespoke-training-at-its-finest/
https://futurefashionfactory.org/frugi-sustainable-durability-testing-to-guarantee-childrens-clothing/
https://futurefashionfactory.org/ruby-moon-case-study/
https://futurefashionfactory.org/aistetic-case-study/
https://futurefashionfactory.org/royal-visit/
https://futurefashionfactory.org/ukft-leads-4m-recycling-project-for-waste-textiles/
https://futurefashionfactory.org/flexible-weaving-continuous-innovation-through-collaboration/
https://futurefashionfactory.org/assessing-ai-feasibility-across-vertical-mill-operations/
https://futurefashionfactory.org/brarista-democratising-professional-bra-fitting-using-artificial-intelligence/
https://futurefashionfactory.org/weffan/
https://futurefashionfactory.org/british-wool/
https://futurefashionfactory.org/dp-dyers/
https://futurefashionfactory.org/pennine-weavers-case-study/
https://futurefashionfactory.org/assyst-bullmer-case-study/
https://futurefashionfactory.org/rose-danford-phillips/
https://futurefashionfactory.org/the-future-of-footwear/
https://futurefashionfactory.org/dyerecycle-chemical-solutions-for-a-circular-economy/
https://futurefashionfactory.org/a-commercial-production-line-for-a-plant-based-alternative-to-leather/
https://futurefashionfactory.org/biodesign-takes-centre-stage-at-osmose-studio/
https://futurefashionfactory.org/camira-group-and-iinouiio-join-forces-for-textile-recycling/
https://futurefashionfactory.org/the-stitch-society-becomes-500th-member/
https://futurefashionfactory.org/boy-wonder-founder-recognised-on-international-womens-day/
https://futurefashionfactory.org/yuglet-champions-shetland-wool-for-outerwear/
https://futurefashionfactory.org/bendi-supports-data-driven-sustainability-action/
https://beyondconference.org/
https://weavers.org.uk/conference/
Exploitation Route The FFF Programme's collaborative R&D work is enabling UK businesses to improve their competitiveness by (a) the creation of new services (e.g. designer-led short-run fabric design and production), (b) the development and investment in new processes (e.g. to improve quality and efficiency and the implementation of digital technology), and (c) the launch of new creative products (e.g. new method to communicate fabric tactile properties). The outcomes are also enabling the forging of new collaborations between digital, creative and fashion businesses (SMEs, PLCs and micros), together with University researchers, to tackle some of the industry's biggest challenges related to sustainability and transparency in global supply chains. Through intensive engagement between industry partners in the cluster, common challenges have been identified, and resources are being mobilised to leverage solutions, drawing on collective resources. From a skills perspective FFF is informing the development and launch of new courses / course modules and apprenticeships incorporating industrial learning, including the new BSc in Textile Innovation and Sustainability, launched in 2024 with industry-supported scholarships. The R&D activity is also leveraging investment from industry and other organisations, as well as enabling the development and support of new business creates/spin-outs.
The Future Fashion Factory brand now forms part of the Leeds Institute of Textiles and Colour (Fashion@LITAC) and is continuing to connect industry members of the FFF ecosystem with leading academic expertise. FFF will continue to leverage its network and multi-disciplinary expertise as a contributor to the wider UKRI Circular Fashion and Textile initiative, including the Circular Fashion Innovation Network (CFIN) of which Prof. Stephen Russell is the academic member of the strategic board.
Sectors Agriculture

Food and Drink

Chemicals

Creative Economy

Education

Environment

Healthcare

Government

Democracy and Justice

Manufacturing

including Industrial Biotechology

Culture

Heritage

Museums and Collections

Retail

URL https://futurefashionfactory.org/event/showcase2023/
 
Description The Future Fashion Factory's collaborative R&D Programme is impacting the UK's Fashion & Textile sector by enabling increased competitiveness through creating new processes, products and services, as well as supporting the development of skills, new spinouts and start-ups in the industry. Working collaboratively with industry, challenge-focused Core Research Themes (CRTs) are addressing unmet needs in the development of Circular Economies and sustainable development; Data-Driven Design/Use of AI; Digital Communication of Aesthetic; Late-Stage Customisation processes, and Skills & Education. The impact of FFF activity can be categorised as: (1) Industry-led RD&I activity: The FFF programme has supported 55 industry-led R&D and innovation projects involving industry-academic collaboration, via 6 open funding calls - further detail is provided in the case study links and collaborative project data located elsewhere in this submission. The second element of this activity are the Core Research projects, which are developing new creative methods, tools and technologies designed for industrial deployment. These broad industrial challenges underpin all aspects of the Programme, supporting & informing academic research & feeding into the Responsive R&D projects. Outcomes, include new business creates, private-sector match, further funding and IP development/licensing are tangible outcomes reported within this submission. (2) Economic impact as aligned with contracted Programme outcomes: FFF feeds into a number of economic impact categories benchmarked under the CICP evaluation process. Other benefits have accrued to the sector from skills development and placement activities, business creates and the fundamental increase in access to the knowledge-base and shift in operational focus for connectivity between academics and industrial partners. A capital element of Programme expenditure has also significantly increased the facilities available to industrial partners. (3) Significant academic impact: The FFF Programme has been catalytic in stimulating collaborative R&D between academic researchers working on a variety of industry challenges, encouraging impact-focused research, design and delivery, and working closely with local partners, including Leeds City Council and Leeds City Region LEP engaged through the FFF's Programme Management Group and Steering Group. Additionally, following co-investment of £21.1m, academic research activity has been further strengthened by the launch of The Leeds Institute of Textiles and Colour (LITAC), building on a unique heritage of nearly 150 years of teaching and research in colour and textiles, to address global challenges and ensure sustainable development in textile and colour industries. Within the last 12-months FFF academic dissemination and engagement activities have been progressively developing aligned with CRT and individual Responsive R&D project completion. (4) Sectoral response to external challenges: The FFF programme has assisted with response to the disruption created by the COVID-19 pandemic, exacerbated by the impacts of Brexit, which together significantly impacted different parts of the UK Fashion & Textile economy. UK-based fashion/textile manufacturing and high-street retail, for example was particularly heavily hit, but this has been balanced to an extent by even greater commitment to innovation, to improve resiliency and competitiveness, assisted by increased virtual activity. FFF has continued to support this process through its digital communication of aesthetics CRT, and the development of further data analytics and machine learning tools, to drive more efficient decision-making in the supply chain, as well as sustainable operations for the sector. There has been continuing strong support for FFF's facilitated programme of engagement events which include expert speakers and workshop activity, as well as responsive R&D funding calls to identify opportunities and take innovation forward. In response to these pressures the FFF annual showcase event successfully shifted online for the period 2020-2022 and attracted a large international audience. Responding to a post-COVID shift in demand plans to bring the 2023 Showcase back to an in-person event with post-event content streaming were made culminating in a very successful June 2023 event which re-invigorated ecosystem cohesion. A further in-person event is now planned for May 2024.
Sector Creative Economy,Education,Environment,Manufacturing, including Industrial Biotechology,Culture, Heritage, Museums and Collections
Impact Types Economic

 
Description Advisory Group Member: New BSI Specification
Geographic Reach National 
Policy Influence Type Participation in a guidance/advisory committee
 
Description Advisory Group Member: New BSI Specification
Geographic Reach National 
Policy Influence Type Participation in a guidance/advisory committee
Impact I was a panel member for the development of new BSI standard
 
Description Board Member for ZDHC
Geographic Reach Multiple continents/international 
Policy Influence Type Participation in a guidance/advisory committee
Impact Improved chemical management policies for the textile dyeing and finishing industry.
URL https://www.roadmaptozero.com/
 
Description Cross Industry Agreement for the Prevention of Microplastic Release (CIA)
Geographic Reach Multiple continents/international 
Policy Influence Type Participation in a guidance/advisory committee
Impact CIA signatories work closely with the EU and were repsonsible for pushing ahead the development of the new ISO standard for measuring microfibre release from garments and fabrics.
URL https://euratex.eu/cia/
 
Description ISO standard
Geographic Reach Multiple continents/international 
Policy Influence Type Participation in a guidance/advisory committee
Impact The standard was released at the end of February 2023 so any impact is unknown as yet. But with forthcomig legislation from the EU (Product Environmental Footprint) and other governments it might become an essential part of the development of new fabrics that shed less fibres during use.
URL https://standardsdevelopment.bsigroup.com/projects/2020-00692#/section
 
Description Member of Advisory Board for Textiles 2030
Geographic Reach National 
Policy Influence Type Participation in a guidance/advisory committee
Impact The initiative has demonstrated improvements in environmental footprint year on year as documented by their annaul reports
URL https://wrap.org.uk/taking-action/textiles/initiatives/textiles-2030
 
Description &SISTERS: a wholly biodegradable absorbent core for heavy incontinence products
Amount £605,208 (GBP)
Funding ID 10084492 
Organisation Innovate UK 
Sector Public
Country United Kingdom
Start 11/2023 
End 06/2025
 
Description 'Capital Uplift' an additional funding stream to 'Future Fashion Factory - Digitally Enabled Design & Manufacture of Designer Products for Circular Economies'
Amount £198,354 (GBP)
Funding ID AFN 87114745 
Organisation Arts & Humanities Research Council (AHRC) 
Sector Public
Country United Kingdom
Start 01/2023 
End 03/2023
 
Description 'Fashion Demonstrator' - an additional funding stream to 'Future Fashion Factory - Digitally Enabled Design & Manufacture of Designer Products for Circular Economies'
Amount £350,000 (GBP)
Funding ID AFN 87119004 
Organisation Arts & Humanities Research Council (AHRC) 
Sector Public
Country United Kingdom
Start 03/2023 
End 05/2024
 
Description ASPECT
Amount £25,000 (GBP)
Organisation Cranfield University 
Sector Academic/University
Country United Kingdom
Start 11/2021 
End 05/2022
 
Description Back to Baselines in Circular Fashion & Textiles
Amount £1,658,568 (GBP)
Funding ID NE/Y004043/1 
Organisation Natural Environment Research Council 
Sector Public
Country United Kingdom
Start 06/2023 
End 07/2025
 
Description Bio-Manufacturing textiles from waste
Amount £628,992 (GBP)
Funding ID BB/T017023/1 
Organisation Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC) 
Sector Public
Country United Kingdom
Start 08/2020 
End 06/2022
 
Description Biodegradable and recyclable graphen-based clothing
Amount £440,504 (GBP)
Funding ID 10044108 
Organisation Innovate UK 
Sector Public
Country United Kingdom
Start 01/2023 
End 06/2024
 
Description Circular Economy for SMEs - innovating with NICER, round 2. UKFT EPR Sandbox project.
Amount £150,000 (GBP)
Organisation Innovate UK 
Sector Public
Country United Kingdom
Start 04/2023 
End 10/2024
 
Description Colourpedia
Amount £231,650 (GBP)
Organisation AkzoNobel 
Sector Private
Country Netherlands
Start 01/2019 
End 12/2020
 
Description Designer & Manufacturing Fund. Additional jacquard run in black & red for student work being carried out during the 2020 term.
Amount £700 (GBP)
Organisation A W Hainsworth & Sons Ltd 
Sector Private
Country United Kingdom
Start 12/2019 
End 07/2020
 
Description Develop an image interface for facial colour measurement
Amount £30,000 (GBP)
Organisation L'Oreal (Paris) 
Sector Private
Country France
Start 07/2019 
End 12/2019
 
Description Develop globe skin colour palette
Amount £58,000 (GBP)
Organisation Unilever 
Sector Private
Country United Kingdom
Start 11/2021 
End 04/2022
 
Description Develop image system for hair measurment
Amount £50,000 (GBP)
Organisation L'Oreal (Paris) 
Sector Private
Country France
Start 12/2021 
End 04/2022
 
Description Developing a market information system framework for reutilising discarded postconsumer textile
Amount £27,432 (GBP)
Funding ID RE UKRI/GCRF RG.TEXT.95549497 
Organisation University of Leeds 
Sector Academic/University
Country United Kingdom
Start 01/2020 
End 06/2020
 
Description Developing biodegradable sequins
Amount £96,000 (GBP)
Funding ID 85568 
Organisation Innovate UK 
Sector Public
Country United Kingdom
Start 11/2020 
End 04/2021
 
Description Encouraging public engagement with textiles waste management
Amount £4,999 (GBP)
Funding ID ESRC IAA (University of Leeds) RG.TEXT.118631.033 
Organisation University of Leeds 
Sector Academic/University
Country United Kingdom
Start 11/2019 
End 08/2020
 
Description Explainable AI (XAI): A Creative Copilot for Interior Designers
Amount £731,927 (GBP)
Funding ID 10092978 
Organisation Innovate UK 
Sector Public
Country United Kingdom
Start 03/2024 
End 02/2025
 
Description Fast x Slow Fashion: Shopping for clothes in Leeds 1720 - 2020
Amount £1,000 (GBP)
Organisation Leeds City Council 
Sector Public
Country United Kingdom
Start 06/2019 
End 12/2019
 
Description Frederic Foster's Mourning Warehouse and the Disappearing Trade in Mourning Wear - Leeds Museums and Galleries / Cultural Institute Cross-Disciplinary Innovation Fund
Amount £1,500 (GBP)
Organisation Leeds Museums and Galleries 
Sector Public
Country United Kingdom
Start 03/2022 
End 07/2023
 
Description Generative AI Storytelling for Moodboards & Colour Palettes
Amount £49,996 (GBP)
Funding ID 10077651 
Organisation Innovate UK 
Sector Public
Country United Kingdom
Start 08/2023 
End 02/2024
 
Description Impact Acceleration Account
Amount £7,884 (GBP)
Funding ID ES/T501955/1 
Organisation Economic and Social Research Council 
Sector Public
Country United Kingdom
Start 03/2022 
End 03/2023
 
Description Impact of Covid-19 on management to eradicate modern slavery from global supply chains: A case study of Indian fashion supply chains
Amount £108,571 (GBP)
Funding ID AH/V009206/1 
Organisation Arts & Humanities Research Council (AHRC) 
Sector Public
Country United Kingdom
Start 11/2020 
End 04/2021
 
Description Innovate UK Smart (Apr 2022)
Amount £453,450 (GBP)
Funding ID IUK 10035483 
Organisation Innovate UK 
Sector Public
Country United Kingdom
Start 09/2022 
End 09/2023
 
Description Innovate UK Smart (Apr 21)
Amount £306,323 (GBP)
Funding ID IUK Fibrefill 
Organisation Innovate UK 
Sector Public
Country United Kingdom
Start 12/2021 
End 07/2022
 
Description L'Oreal develop image system for hair video capture
Amount £25,000 (GBP)
Organisation L'Oreal (Paris) 
Sector Private
Country France
Start 12/2022 
End 02/2023
 
Description LITAC Call 2. Market Positioning. "Robotic Adaptor/s for On-demand Singular 3D Weaving Manufacturing"
Amount £98,826 (GBP)
Organisation Clothworkers Company 
Sector Private
Country United Kingdom
Start 04/2023 
End 05/2024
 
Description LITAC Development Project (Technical Feasibility) - "Colour forecasting in the metaverse"
Amount £24,840 (GBP)
Organisation Clothworkers Company 
Sector Private
Country United Kingdom
Start 08/2022 
End 03/2023
 
Description Lets Talk Real Skills. The project ensures significant improvements in skills provision through a strong collaborative approach with sectors and industry groups li. https://www.westyorkshirecolleges.co.uk/contracted-projects/lets-talk-real-skills
Amount £1,063,999 (GBP)
Organisation European Commission 
Sector Public
Country European Union (EU)
Start 11/2018 
End 10/2021
 
Description Mapping supply chain developments within fashion micro clusters to capture and evidence emerging value chains
Amount £38,000 (GBP)
Organisation Creative Industries Policy and Evidence Centre 
Sector Charity/Non Profit
Start 01/2022 
End 06/2022
 
Description National Digital Supply Chain Testbeds - UKFT DSCH project
Amount £315,000 (GBP)
Organisation Digital Catapult 
Sector Charity/Non Profit
Country United Kingdom
Start 03/2023 
End 03/2025
 
Description Novel High Performance Textile Composites
Amount £5,468 (GBP)
Funding ID BB/S009779/1 
Organisation Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC) 
Sector Public
Country United Kingdom
Start 01/2020 
End 12/2021
 
Description PEC Research Commissioning Call
Amount £37,000 (GBP)
Organisation Creative Industries Policy and Evidence Centre 
Sector Charity/Non Profit
Start 01/2022 
End 07/2022
 
Description Pattern Project - a FFF supported application by FFF network member Hetco Ltd, resulted in a spin out company The Pattern Project
Amount £129,520 (GBP)
Funding ID 42876 
Organisation Innovate UK 
Sector Public
Country United Kingdom
Start 03/2020 
End 06/2021
 
Description RElease of Stains at Ultra Low Temperatures (RESULT)
Amount £522,797 (GBP)
Funding ID 105039 
Organisation Innovate UK 
Sector Public
Country United Kingdom
Start 02/2019 
End 01/2021
 
Description RKEI Strategic Priorities Fund Application
Amount £9,550 (GBP)
Funding ID RKE Reference: 80008203 
Organisation United Kingdom Research and Innovation 
Department Strategic Priorities Fund
Sector Public
Country United Kingdom
Start 01/2020 
End 03/2020
 
Description Renew and upgrade facilities for creative and cultural
Amount £969,448 (GBP)
Organisation Arts & Humanities Research Council (AHRC) 
Sector Public
Country United Kingdom
Start 01/2023 
End 03/2023
 
Description Resource efficiency for materials and manufacturing (REforMM)
Amount £29,053 (GBP)
Organisation Innovate UK 
Sector Public
Country United Kingdom
Start 05/2023 
End 01/2024
 
Description Revolutionising Waterless Textile Dyeing through Optical Colour Mixing and Machine Learning Colour-recipe Prediction
Amount £548,049 (GBP)
Funding ID 10079762 
Organisation Innovate UK 
Sector Public
Country United Kingdom
Start 09/2023 
End 03/2025
 
Description SMARTY. To establish a common basis for policy learning among its members to overcome fragmentation of Industry 4.0 solutions and their enabling potential by dealing with main challenges hampering their diffusion into the European Union.
Amount € 2,425,500 (EUR)
Organisation INTERREG IIIC North 
Sector Public
Country France
Start 07/2019 
End 07/2023
 
Description Skills development for researchers. Developing Fashion Thinking through Design Anthropology
Amount £99,537 (GBP)
Organisation Arts & Humanities Research Council (AHRC) 
Sector Public
Country United Kingdom
Start 03/2020 
End 01/2021
 
Description The development of a novel biorefining strategy for the valorisation of textile waste
Amount £303,620 (GBP)
Funding ID BB/X011577/1 
Organisation Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC) 
Sector Public
Country United Kingdom
Start 02/2023 
End 01/2025
 
Description UK Textiles and Fashion: Data-Driven Platform
Amount £1,400,000 (GBP)
Organisation Innovate UK 
Sector Public
Country United Kingdom
Start 03/2021 
End 12/2021
 
Description UKRI Circular fashion programme: recycling and sorting demonstrator 'Autosort for Circular Textiles - ACT UK' (FFF consortia members)
Amount £3,999,467 (GBP)
Organisation Innovate UK 
Sector Public
Country United Kingdom
Start 05/2023 
End 03/2025
 
Description Unilever, develop image system for facial image capture and analysis
Amount £50,000 (GBP)
Organisation Unilever 
Sector Private
Country United Kingdom
Start 12/2022 
End 05/2023
 
Description Unilever: Skin gloss modelling
Amount £20,000 (GBP)
Organisation Unilever 
Sector Private
Country United Kingdom
Start 12/2022 
End 02/2023
 
Description Unilever: develop facial image system using mobile
Amount £35,000 (GBP)
Organisation Unilever 
Sector Private
Country United Kingdom
Start 08/2022 
End 01/2023
 
Description Women's Experiences of Making, Consuming and Wearing Everyday Clothing in Yorkshire in the 20th Century - Leeds Museums and Galleries / Cultural Institute Cross-Disciplinary Innovation Fund
Amount £1,000 (GBP)
Organisation Leeds Museums and Galleries 
Sector Public
Country United Kingdom
Start 03/2019 
End 03/2020
 
Title Designing within holistic coloration systems 
Description The toolkit supports designers working within holistic approaches to fashion and textile coloration. The toolkit embeds technical performance with aesthetic information to support designers designing life cycle scenarios for coloured textiles rather than focussing only on aesthetic qualitites. 
Type Of Material Improvements to research infrastructure 
Year Produced 2022 
Provided To Others? No  
Impact The toolkit highlighted the requirements for more cross discipline understanding of holistic coloration approaches and the potential range of colours achievable. In engaging with the toolkit industry partners felt holistic (natural pigments) could be easily incorporated into product ranges to sit along side synthetic pigments. This was a shift in mindset and attitudes toward alternative less environmentally impacting coloration processes. 
 
Title The Mapping of microclusters in the UK's Fashion and Design Industries 
Description A digital mapping of UK fashion design & manufacture specifically focusing on identifying the regional and national activities for the fashion design and manufacture of micro clusters. The tool provides the ability to identify geographically individual organisations and link these with cluster networks to communicate the current landscape of activities in the UK. 
Type Of Material Improvements to research infrastructure 
Year Produced 2022 
Provided To Others? No  
Impact The tool is part of ongoing research that will be completed June 2022. The mapping tool has allowed a cross discipline team of researchers (Policy scientists, design researchers and data scientist) to develop a rational for the selection of UK based fashion microclusters for involvement in the second stage of this research project. The selected microclusters will now be used within an empirical study. The digital mapping tool will be used to reflect on the impacts of geographical location and infrastructure in terms of examining insights from the empirical study. 
 
Description 3D Woven Fashion 
Organisation Royal College of Art
Country United Kingdom 
Sector Academic/University 
PI Contribution Establishing commonalities in material design, technological methodologies, systems and the digitalisation of fabrication to production. Utilising creativity for innovative whole garment circularity in the textile-fashion industry. As academic lead in the 3D Weaving Innovation Centre I have shaped the direction of future relations with the RCA to strengthen the 3D WIC's research and knowledge profile for collaborative partnerships with various stakeholders. I lead on the material construction design and technology for production of seamless woven fashion forms.
Collaborator Contribution Academic lead for Fashion. Providing extensive fashion design-production experience and knowledge for foundations to alternative cut-and-sew fashion forms.
Impact Future design manufacture: Developing new models and systems for 3D design to manufacture Future Fashion Factory R&D project consortium involves: ? Royal College of Art, UK - Academic Lead for the Project Susan Postlethwaite Senior Tutor (Research)Fashion RCA, Lili Eva Bartha Research Associate ? University of Leeds, UK - Academic Partner Dr. Lindsey Taylor Weaving Technologies & Design ? Twelve Oaks Software Ltd. UK - Industrial Partner Paul Jervis
Start Year 2019
 
Description FFF Responsive R&D - Call 1 project: Yorkshire Textiles & AW Hainsworth. Coding and the Jacquard Loom 'New Heritage' weave. 
Organisation A W Hainsworth & Sons Ltd
Country United Kingdom 
Sector Private 
PI Contribution The University of Leeds made sample items from the New Heritage cloth for display, also exploring the further use for designers wishing to be involved as part of the FFF network. Yorkshire Textiles led on the development of suitable educational materials, in a variety of formats, liaising closely with both LCC Museums and UoL academic staff, ensuring that educational output is in a format that can be easily adapted to work alongside taught UG & PG modules.
Collaborator Contribution Sourcing and decoding Jacquard loom punch cards in their various forms, both wood and card, that would be the basis of the collaborative design. Digitisation of these historic patterns and the creation of the 'New-Heritage' textile. Sales & Promotion: engaging with potential commercial buyers and end-users.
Impact The jacquard loom, credited as one of the earliest forms of coding, has inspired a 'new heritage' cloth being produced at AW Hainsworth. By digitising the patterns of early jacquard punch cards held at Leeds Industrial Museum, a new design has been created for modern electronic jacquard looms. Hainsworth will use the project to trial a new designer-led short production run service, for bespoke fabrics. Designers based at Hainsworth Creative Hub will use the cloth to produce bespoke items that support their business growth. Some of these products will be on display at the Future Fashion Factory Showcase on 16 October. Using the new short-run capability and the new fabrics, Yorkshire Textiles will develop educational projects engaging designers and students with both the heritage and the full production processes behind bespoke fabric products.
Start Year 2019
 
Description FFF Responsive R&D - Call 1 project: Yorkshire Textiles & AW Hainsworth. Coding and the Jacquard Loom 'New Heritage' weave. 
Organisation Yorkshire Textiles
Country United Kingdom 
Sector Charity/Non Profit 
PI Contribution The University of Leeds made sample items from the New Heritage cloth for display, also exploring the further use for designers wishing to be involved as part of the FFF network. Yorkshire Textiles led on the development of suitable educational materials, in a variety of formats, liaising closely with both LCC Museums and UoL academic staff, ensuring that educational output is in a format that can be easily adapted to work alongside taught UG & PG modules.
Collaborator Contribution Sourcing and decoding Jacquard loom punch cards in their various forms, both wood and card, that would be the basis of the collaborative design. Digitisation of these historic patterns and the creation of the 'New-Heritage' textile. Sales & Promotion: engaging with potential commercial buyers and end-users.
Impact The jacquard loom, credited as one of the earliest forms of coding, has inspired a 'new heritage' cloth being produced at AW Hainsworth. By digitising the patterns of early jacquard punch cards held at Leeds Industrial Museum, a new design has been created for modern electronic jacquard looms. Hainsworth will use the project to trial a new designer-led short production run service, for bespoke fabrics. Designers based at Hainsworth Creative Hub will use the cloth to produce bespoke items that support their business growth. Some of these products will be on display at the Future Fashion Factory Showcase on 16 October. Using the new short-run capability and the new fabrics, Yorkshire Textiles will develop educational projects engaging designers and students with both the heritage and the full production processes behind bespoke fabric products.
Start Year 2019
 
Description FFF Responsive R&D Call 1: Abraham Moon & Sons Ltd. Colour Measurement of Blended Fibres. 
Organisation Abraham Moon & Sons
Country United Kingdom 
Sector Private 
PI Contribution We undertook a study of the colour measurement practice at Abraham Moons and identified sources of error. We developed a sample holder that allows a more precise colour measurement to be made. Several prototypes of the sample holder were manufactured using a 3-D printer and the performance of the sample holder was evaluated. We also developed two methods to predict the colour recipe for a blended fibre sample; one of these methods was based upon a novel application of supervised machine learning (artificial neural networks) and the other used a colour-calibrated imaging system and an unsupervised machine learning technique.
Collaborator Contribution Abraham Moons provide access for our researcher to study the colour measurement process at the company. They worked with us to understand the sources of error that exist within the current practice of making fibre samples and measuring their colour. They contributed to the analysis of the data.
Impact This project is now complete and has performed well for the company, achieving the desired outcome and leading onto discussion of further process and project innovations. As wool varies from year to year and even from sheep to sheep, subtle variations in the dyes that are used, ensure the end product maintains the specified colour and quality. This project will develop and build on existing digital colour measurement and matching technology (spectrophotometry) to improve the accuracy and economic efficiency of the wool dyeing process, reducing waste and improving the quality and consistency of the end product. Laurence Brophy: "Abraham Moon is keen to support the Textile Creative Industries in the UK and we have sustainability and quality at the heart of all that we do. This project will hopefully help us to improve, even further, the quality and consistency of our woollen yarn colours in the fabric that we weave at our vertical Mill in Yorkshire."
Start Year 2019
 
Description FFF Responsive R&D Call 1: Advanced Dyeing Solutions Ltd. Fabric Evaluation System. 
Organisation Advanced Dyeing Solutions
Country United Kingdom 
Sector Private 
PI Contribution The University research team is leveraging IP to assist the industrial partner, also helps the partner develop a commercially available system to the market including the improvement of the system, develop new control system, operation software, database and remote communication system.
Collaborator Contribution Advanced Dyeing Solutions (ADS) is a world renowned company specialised in textile instrument and dyeing & finishing system. It brings its expertise in instrument development and marketing channels to develop and deliver a commercially viable fabric evaluation system for measure fabric tactile properties to the global market.
Impact The outcome of the project has finalised the marriage of software and hardware to allow ADS to have successfully delivered a new high value technology into the market, its commercial name is named as "Sentire". This project will develop a new digital fabric evaluation system, which measures the tactile properties of a textile fabric, and then relays them over the internet, building an accurate reproduction and visualisation for a customer in a different location. This example of digital communication of aesthetics links in closely with one of our core research themes and if commercialised, could reduce the need for excessive sampling, as well as reduce the time and resources involved in building a global customer base. As a result, it has the potential to slash costs, improve substantially through reduced waste, and reduce product development lead times. Sean O'Neill, managing director: "We see this as a fantastic opportunity for Roaches International to expand in to areas of textile measurement that have not been possible before. Once this technology has been fully released into the market place, the possibilities are huge. Not only will this be used for comparison of textile properties globally, but we also see interest from online retailers who would like to be able to accurately display the way that a particular fabric drapes on a person. The development of this technology will have a very positive impact on the continual growth of the Roaches International portfolio of products which will lead to the creation of jobs."
Start Year 2019
 
Description FFF Responsive R&D Call 1: Advanced Dyeing Solutions Ltd. Fabric Evaluation System. 
Organisation Advanced Dyeing Solutions
Country United Kingdom 
Sector Private 
PI Contribution The University research team is leveraging IP to assist the industrial partner, also helps the partner develop a commercially available system to the market including the improvement of the system, develop new control system, operation software, database and remote communication system.
Collaborator Contribution Advanced Dyeing Solutions (ADS) is a world renowned company specialised in textile instrument and dyeing & finishing system. It brings its expertise in instrument development and marketing channels to develop and deliver a commercially viable fabric evaluation system for measure fabric tactile properties to the global market.
Impact The outcome of the project has finalised the marriage of software and hardware to allow ADS to have successfully delivered a new high value technology into the market, its commercial name is named as "Sentire". This project will develop a new digital fabric evaluation system, which measures the tactile properties of a textile fabric, and then relays them over the internet, building an accurate reproduction and visualisation for a customer in a different location. This example of digital communication of aesthetics links in closely with one of our core research themes and if commercialised, could reduce the need for excessive sampling, as well as reduce the time and resources involved in building a global customer base. As a result, it has the potential to slash costs, improve substantially through reduced waste, and reduce product development lead times. Sean O'Neill, managing director: "We see this as a fantastic opportunity for Roaches International to expand in to areas of textile measurement that have not been possible before. Once this technology has been fully released into the market place, the possibilities are huge. Not only will this be used for comparison of textile properties globally, but we also see interest from online retailers who would like to be able to accurately display the way that a particular fabric drapes on a person. The development of this technology will have a very positive impact on the continual growth of the Roaches International portfolio of products which will lead to the creation of jobs."
Start Year 2019
 
Description FFF Responsive R&D Call 1: Deluxe Beds Ltd. Modular Mattress Design. 
Organisation Deluxe Beds
Country United Kingdom 
Sector Private 
PI Contribution The University of Huddersfield's team provided staff input (scientific input related to designing of modular mattress, new polymeric adhesives, new materials to reduce weight and improve recyclability, etc.) and laboratory facilities to develop and test new adhesive and mattress materials.
Collaborator Contribution Deluxe Beds Ltd. provided staff input (administrative and managerial) to inform market needs and product guidelines and also facilities and materials required to develop mattress prototypes.
Impact The project has started in October, 2019 and ended in October, 2020. This project enabled the company to develop a process and prototypes for a new high value modular mattress product, comprising interlocking sections that can be configured to create a personalised product that suits each customer's unique physical needs. As the product ages or as customer needs change, individual sections will be replaceable, extending the product lifetime and reducing waste. The innovative design will give the company a competitive edge by providing a new product offering that significantly reduces waste in both the manufacturing process and at the end-of-life, while keeping valuable textile materials in circulation for longer. Better customisation will improve the health benefits of having the right mattress for consumers. Deluxe Beds is now well positioned to take forward modular products, which can be personalised to each consumer while reducing waste created during end-of-life disposal. "This project really helped to fast-track our product development," says James Appleyard, Sales Director at Deluxe Beds. "By closing down dead ends, identifying leads and giving us a clear direction of travel, collaborating with Future Fashion Factory has helped speed us toward a solution capable of driving global change."
Start Year 2019
 
Description FFF Responsive R&D Call 1: Gieves Ltd. Reducing Made-to-Measure lead times: the 48-Hour Suit. 
Organisation Dormeuil
Country France 
Sector Private 
PI Contribution The University of Leeds is providing scoping work & reporting on options for enhancing customer experience throughout the purchasing process. Specifically UoL research will report on the variations available for use of personalised avatars within the decision-making process, i.e. compare and contrast the aesthetics of different trims, jacket fittings and clothe choices.
Collaborator Contribution The project involves staff & resources from both the project applicant/lead (Gieves and Hawkes) and from within their supply chain (Lutwyche Bespoke & Dormeuil). Only G&H and LB formally contracted to provide project support although senior staff from within Dormeuil are attending project meetings.
Impact Project deliverables will be the development of a new digitally enabled measurement, ordering & delivery process that will enhance customer satisfaction, improve process transparency and reduce lead times. As a high-end tailor, the company will develop a digitally-enabled system for use in their flagship Saville Row store to accelerate business growth in its made-to-measure suit category. New digital technology will be used in-store to help customers visualise the detailed design features of their UK-manufactured suit, and track in real-time the supply of high quality fabrics produced in Yorkshire. Real-time production updates will be available for customers to track the design and manufacture of their suit from the Yorkshire mill to the UK garment production site, and eventually to the collection point. By leveraging UK suppliers end to end, and speeding up the process of communicating the customer's needs via digitisation, lead times on a high quality made-to-measure suit will be reduced from 6-8 weeks to 5 days, and eventually to 48 hours. Nick Keyte, managing director: "Future Fashion Factory gives Gieves & Hawkes the opportunity to combine our world class, Made in England manufacturing with the latest digital technology to fundamentally change the Made to Measure service proposition, significantly reducing lead times whilst supporting total transparency within the supply chain. Initially, the launch will focus on our world renowned flagship store at No1 Savile Row but with the intention of a full roll out to all our locations and partners in UK and International markets."
Start Year 2019
 
Description FFF Responsive R&D Call 1: Gieves Ltd. Reducing Made-to-Measure lead times: the 48-Hour Suit. 
Organisation Gieves Ltd
Country United Kingdom 
Sector Private 
PI Contribution The University of Leeds is providing scoping work & reporting on options for enhancing customer experience throughout the purchasing process. Specifically UoL research will report on the variations available for use of personalised avatars within the decision-making process, i.e. compare and contrast the aesthetics of different trims, jacket fittings and clothe choices.
Collaborator Contribution The project involves staff & resources from both the project applicant/lead (Gieves and Hawkes) and from within their supply chain (Lutwyche Bespoke & Dormeuil). Only G&H and LB formally contracted to provide project support although senior staff from within Dormeuil are attending project meetings.
Impact Project deliverables will be the development of a new digitally enabled measurement, ordering & delivery process that will enhance customer satisfaction, improve process transparency and reduce lead times. As a high-end tailor, the company will develop a digitally-enabled system for use in their flagship Saville Row store to accelerate business growth in its made-to-measure suit category. New digital technology will be used in-store to help customers visualise the detailed design features of their UK-manufactured suit, and track in real-time the supply of high quality fabrics produced in Yorkshire. Real-time production updates will be available for customers to track the design and manufacture of their suit from the Yorkshire mill to the UK garment production site, and eventually to the collection point. By leveraging UK suppliers end to end, and speeding up the process of communicating the customer's needs via digitisation, lead times on a high quality made-to-measure suit will be reduced from 6-8 weeks to 5 days, and eventually to 48 hours. Nick Keyte, managing director: "Future Fashion Factory gives Gieves & Hawkes the opportunity to combine our world class, Made in England manufacturing with the latest digital technology to fundamentally change the Made to Measure service proposition, significantly reducing lead times whilst supporting total transparency within the supply chain. Initially, the launch will focus on our world renowned flagship store at No1 Savile Row but with the intention of a full roll out to all our locations and partners in UK and International markets."
Start Year 2019
 
Description FFF Responsive R&D Call 1: Gieves Ltd. Reducing Made-to-Measure lead times: the 48-Hour Suit. 
Organisation Lutwyche Bespoke
Country United Kingdom 
Sector Private 
PI Contribution The University of Leeds is providing scoping work & reporting on options for enhancing customer experience throughout the purchasing process. Specifically UoL research will report on the variations available for use of personalised avatars within the decision-making process, i.e. compare and contrast the aesthetics of different trims, jacket fittings and clothe choices.
Collaborator Contribution The project involves staff & resources from both the project applicant/lead (Gieves and Hawkes) and from within their supply chain (Lutwyche Bespoke & Dormeuil). Only G&H and LB formally contracted to provide project support although senior staff from within Dormeuil are attending project meetings.
Impact Project deliverables will be the development of a new digitally enabled measurement, ordering & delivery process that will enhance customer satisfaction, improve process transparency and reduce lead times. As a high-end tailor, the company will develop a digitally-enabled system for use in their flagship Saville Row store to accelerate business growth in its made-to-measure suit category. New digital technology will be used in-store to help customers visualise the detailed design features of their UK-manufactured suit, and track in real-time the supply of high quality fabrics produced in Yorkshire. Real-time production updates will be available for customers to track the design and manufacture of their suit from the Yorkshire mill to the UK garment production site, and eventually to the collection point. By leveraging UK suppliers end to end, and speeding up the process of communicating the customer's needs via digitisation, lead times on a high quality made-to-measure suit will be reduced from 6-8 weeks to 5 days, and eventually to 48 hours. Nick Keyte, managing director: "Future Fashion Factory gives Gieves & Hawkes the opportunity to combine our world class, Made in England manufacturing with the latest digital technology to fundamentally change the Made to Measure service proposition, significantly reducing lead times whilst supporting total transparency within the supply chain. Initially, the launch will focus on our world renowned flagship store at No1 Savile Row but with the intention of a full roll out to all our locations and partners in UK and International markets."
Start Year 2019
 
Description FFF Responsive R&D Call 1: Joshua Ellis Ltd. Recycling Cashmere. 
Organisation Joshua Ellis
Country United Kingdom 
Sector Private 
PI Contribution The collaboration was based on the expertise of Dr Alice Dallabona with regards to the luxury fashion industry, and in particular with regards to branding, marketing and the dynamics concerning societal and cultural values and their role in shaping consumer and business practices. The industrial partner aimed to explore the development of a circular manufacturing process on cashmere (and lambswool) to create a new range of yarns but, when considering the technical challenges to do this, it was deemed necessary to investigate and assess the market to identify opportunities and challenges. In this respect, the collaboration led to a more in- depth understanding of potential demand and gave the business enough confidence to identify a strategic short-term and long-term plan with regards to the substantial capital and R&D investment that would be needed to create a commercially available product. The first phase of the project involved integrating existing market knowledge held within the business to help scope the focus of the research undertaken. This was followed by a detailed research to assess the potential within the market for consumer buy-in to high value luxury textiles with recycled content, and the challenges and problematic aspects in this respect. Focus groups, run with the collaboration of a research assistant, were undertaken. Dr Dallabona then analysed the data and produced a report which informs on the potential to develop products with high recycled material content in relation to the market need and demand. The review of the findings was undertaken to assist the business with its decision making in relation to further investment and R&D on the production technical challenges which would be faced as part of bringing product to market.
Collaborator Contribution The industrial partner contributed to the outcomes of the project through access to their expertise in a variety of areas, from manufacturing to marketing and management, access to data and access to existing market knowledge held within the business. This information proved essential to achieve the aim, which was to assist the business with its decision making in relation to further investment in the development of a circular manufacturing process on cashmere (and lambswool). The above mentioned contribution made by the industrial partner, alongside the findings from the project, will also be used to inform academic publications (see next section).
Impact Through this project, the industrial partner has achieved its goal and gained significant insight into the market under consideration. The aim of the project was to support strategic product development decisions based on the analysis of key drivers within the luxury fashion goods market and the analysis of primary data. The primary outcome of the project was the development of a detailed market intelligence report to underpin decisions on capital investment with regards to the potential to develop products with high recycled material content. Moreover, the project will also contribute to at least one journal article and conference presentation.
Start Year 2019
 
Description FFF Responsive R&D Call 1: Laxtons Ltd. Immersive Training for the Textile Industry. 
Organisation Laxtons Limited
Country United Kingdom 
Sector Private 
PI Contribution The University of Leeds is providing specialist advisory services to the project (WP4) ensuring that project output is fit for purpose and terminology used can be easily understood in both academic and industrial contexts.
Collaborator Contribution Delivery of this project is seen as key to several areas of the business and as such significant company resource has been allocated in all Work Packages. This includes staff expertise (managerial, operational, sales/marketing & administrative) as well as machine/equipment resource. A specific emphasis on the FFF Core Research Theme of skills & education means that this project will impact across all areas of operation for the company.
Impact It is anticipated that successful delivery of this project will result in a variety of production savings to be made by standardisation of working methods which will ensure that only the most efficient ways of completing individual tasks are passed on through the workforce. An example of such a saving would be more efficient mending of broken ends on spinning machines which would dramatically reduce waste fibres being discarded due to less than optimal staff response times. Technical roles in the fashion and textile industry require a wide range of specialist skills, but training new employees is time-consuming and labour intensive. It can take 6-8 months before a new member of staff can work on manufacturing equipment unsupervised. This project will harness new augmented reality (AR) techniques to develop exciting new immersive training packages for Laxton's staff, allowing them to gain virtual 'hands-on' experience of complex production processes, cutting average learning times, as well as providing unrivalled access to high quality training provision. James Laxton, managing director: "We are really excited about this project which will enable us to take our training and multi skilling to the next level, not only improving productivity but also improving staff engagement in the whole process."
Start Year 2019
 
Description FFF Responsive R&D Call 1: WT Johnson Ltd. Digital Analysis of Fabric Finishing Processes. 
Organisation WT Johnson and Sons Ltd
Country United Kingdom 
Sector Private 
PI Contribution The research team will help WT Johnson to characterise the fabric tactile properties of their fabrics objectively by using a unique technology developed by the research team, a database of fabric tactile characteristics will be established. A predictive model incorporating Artificial Intelligence (AI) will be established to link fabric tactile properties of finished fabrics, fabric processing parameters, and fabric properties of raw fabrics.
Collaborator Contribution WT Johnson are a market leading service provider of high quality fabric finishing for many of the UK's premium cloth manufacturers and they add considerable value to the final product delivered into the market. A predictive software system to predetermine the outcome of a specific finishing technique from data relating to the properties of the cloth (design, structure, components etc) offers major benefits to the company and the customers they serve. The business wish to pursue a project to explore the potential of developing such a system to achieve targeted fabric tactile properties using existing fabric data and processing parameters.
Impact the project has delivered an intelligent system based on machine learning models to address a number of issues of fabric hand feel and fabric discrimination and optimising fabric finishing process, which the business sees as significantly problematic in the area of textile finishing processing they operate in. WT Johnson will build on R&D work already undertaken in partnership with the University of Leeds to develop a digital tool that provides a quantitative link between the complex conditions used during fabric finishing and the resulting fabric handle. The project will enable the company to build an extensive data library from their existing sample archives, to develop a powerful new digital tool capable of predicting the effect of any finishing technique on any type of fabric, or which finish should be selected to achieve a desired effect. The information on fabric handle will also be digitally relayed to customers around the world. This will save substantial time and resources on testing, cut production waste and significantly reduce production lead times. Paul Johnson, Managing Director: "We are delighted to be working with the University of Leeds to explore digital representation of fabric handle. It is the measure that we, and all of our customers, are ultimately judged by. WT Johnson has always put a premium on innovation with regard to wool finishing, and our collaboration as part of the Future Fashion Factory programme is both innovative and ground breaking."
Start Year 2019
 
Description FFF Responsive R&D Call 1: WT Johnson Ltd. Digital Analysis of Fabric Finishing Processes. 
Organisation WT Johnson and Sons Ltd
Country United Kingdom 
Sector Private 
PI Contribution The research team will help WT Johnson to characterise the fabric tactile properties of their fabrics objectively by using a unique technology developed by the research team, a database of fabric tactile characteristics will be established. A predictive model incorporating Artificial Intelligence (AI) will be established to link fabric tactile properties of finished fabrics, fabric processing parameters, and fabric properties of raw fabrics.
Collaborator Contribution WT Johnson are a market leading service provider of high quality fabric finishing for many of the UK's premium cloth manufacturers and they add considerable value to the final product delivered into the market. A predictive software system to predetermine the outcome of a specific finishing technique from data relating to the properties of the cloth (design, structure, components etc) offers major benefits to the company and the customers they serve. The business wish to pursue a project to explore the potential of developing such a system to achieve targeted fabric tactile properties using existing fabric data and processing parameters.
Impact the project has delivered an intelligent system based on machine learning models to address a number of issues of fabric hand feel and fabric discrimination and optimising fabric finishing process, which the business sees as significantly problematic in the area of textile finishing processing they operate in. WT Johnson will build on R&D work already undertaken in partnership with the University of Leeds to develop a digital tool that provides a quantitative link between the complex conditions used during fabric finishing and the resulting fabric handle. The project will enable the company to build an extensive data library from their existing sample archives, to develop a powerful new digital tool capable of predicting the effect of any finishing technique on any type of fabric, or which finish should be selected to achieve a desired effect. The information on fabric handle will also be digitally relayed to customers around the world. This will save substantial time and resources on testing, cut production waste and significantly reduce production lead times. Paul Johnson, Managing Director: "We are delighted to be working with the University of Leeds to explore digital representation of fabric handle. It is the measure that we, and all of our customers, are ultimately judged by. WT Johnson has always put a premium on innovation with regard to wool finishing, and our collaboration as part of the Future Fashion Factory programme is both innovative and ground breaking."
Start Year 2019
 
Description FFF Responsive R&D Call 2 Project: Camira. Rapid and late stage functionalisation of textiles. 
Organisation Camira Fabrics Ltd
Country United Kingdom 
Sector Private 
PI Contribution The University of Huddersfield team provided specialist staff input (academic literature, scientific reason and commercial considerations of end product specification), facilities for laboratory-scale trials & development of methodology to optimise the process, demonstration of commercial application & review of how best to embed the capability within the company's business operation.
Collaborator Contribution This project is commercially driven and the company see successful delivery as a crucial part of their customer service to a global client base. As such they provided project input in the form of staff time (managerial, operational & administrative), laboratory support and materials (both chemical and fibre/fabrics). Camira are the leading UK cloth manufacturer for high performance interior end uses and transport seating as well as fabrics for demanding environments such as care homes, hospitals, public spaces and oil rigs. There is a need for the fabrics they supply to have functional finishes, (flame retardants, antimicrobials, water repellents etc), to a critical degree for many of their markets. A key USP for the business is the offer of next day delivery across their range of fabrics and Camira can see a significant benefit from having a treatment system capable of applying a range of finishes from a single technology platform that allows the treatment of fabric, to the desired specification, immediately prior to shipping. (Public Statement)
Impact This project contracted as the first COVID-19 lockdown came into force, originally due to commence delivery from 1st June 2020 it's timeline was impacted by the COVID-19 restrictions both within the company & access to university labs. This project is now forecast to complete ???-21. It is anticipated that the project will deliver a successful outcome on a number of levels which will allow the business to significantly improve the delivery of their product into the market and deliver tangible benefits to customers through enhanced functionality of the fabrics supplied. In addition, the potential to make considerable improvements in the environmental performance of Camira with modifications to the processing used in manufacture are also expected.
Start Year 2020
 
Description FFF Responsive R&D Call 2 project: Marton Mills. Developing sustainable, durable fabric for the school wear market. 
Organisation Marton Mills Co Ltd
Country United Kingdom 
Sector Private 
PI Contribution The University of Huddersfield is inputting both staff expertise and use of laboratory facilities into this project. Staff expertise will cover existing literature review & commercial option appraisal, formulation development, testing & provision of a comprehensive report on options trialled and methodology to optimise in production.
Collaborator Contribution This project is seen as key to the continue success of a key product line for the company. As such the company is providing input into this project in the form of staff time (managerial, operational & administrative) and provision of sample materials in the form of both finished and incomplete product for experimentation & testing. Marton Mills will carry out a rigorous level of customer wear-testing to inform selection of a preferred option for production & to aid promotion of the new product range.
Impact This project is currently being contracted and is due to commence delivery on 1st July 2020. Expected outputs from the project are the development & evaluation of a number of potential solutions to the identified challenge which will lead to the successful launch of a new product range for Marton Mills.
Start Year 2020
 
Description FFF Responsive R&D Call 2: A Moon Ltd "Development of a digital solution to archive highly valuable historical cloth designs" 
Organisation Abraham Moon & Sons
Country United Kingdom 
Sector Private 
PI Contribution • Development of a highly innovative digital solution for collating and managing a complex historical textile archive; • Commercial tool which will have a significant impact on both the internal design function and external customer engagement (marketing); • Significant saving in time and cost on new product development with the embedded ability to reach the market much quicker (particularly in relation to export markets); • Utilisation as a training/educational tool for new designers and as an expression of the rich textile heritage of the region; • Potential for a commercially available archive software for the regions other high quality textile manufacturers where a similar untapped and valuable resource exists; • Highly effective digital methods for conveying accurate design information to clients for improved communications.
Collaborator Contribution over 10,000 fabric design samples; expertise in fabric design; help design and maintain the fabric database; hours of input fabric descriptions; recruitment of a assistant to take fabric images;
Impact it just stated three weeks ago
Start Year 2020
 
Description FFF Responsive R&D Call 2: Abraham Moon & Sons Ltd. Development of a digital solution to archive highly valuable historical cloth designs. 
Organisation Abraham Moon & Sons
Country United Kingdom 
Sector Private 
PI Contribution The University of Leeds provides staff input and cover the academic researcher's project-related traveling. We provided and will continue to provide the following research inputs:Development of a highly innovative digital solution for collating and managing a complex historical textile archive;Colour management technology for textile archive;
Collaborator Contribution Abraham Moon are inputting staff time, travel and internal IT resource into this project .
Impact Anticipated project outcomes have considerable potential for revolutionising the way the business uses and manages their highly valuable and extensive design archive. There are a number of outcomes anticipated which, given success, will deliver on several levels for the company, these include amongst others making significant savings in time and cost on new product development and providing a training/educational resource for new designers.
Start Year 2019
 
Description FFF Responsive R&D Call 2: Bower Roebuck Ltd. Development of a predictive model for weaving machine settings based on cloth construction. 
Organisation Bower Roebuck
Country United Kingdom 
Sector Private 
PI Contribution The University of Leeds is contributing staff expertise, know-how and use of laboratory facilities to this project. The project is split into three Work Packages which will investigate the range of parameters to be considered, their interaction & variations that thus occur, construction of a solution that will fully take into account all known variables, and then prototype modelling and testing in a production environment.
Collaborator Contribution This challenge is seen as key to unlocking production efficiencies and optimising performance for the company, as such they are committing significant staff time (managerial and operational), materials and internal testing/IT resources to supporting the project. Company staff will work alongside University of Leeds staff across the lifespan of this project.
Impact Successful delivery of this project will deliver on a number of levels for Bower Roebuck, the main impact anticipated will be a significant uplift in weaving efficiency and vastly improved agility and flexibility across the production unit leading to cost savings and reduced wastage.
Start Year 2020
 
Description FFF Responsive R&D Call 2: Conductive Transfers Ltd. Personalised 3D zoned textile heaters. 
Organisation Conductive Transfers
Country United Kingdom 
Sector Private 
PI Contribution The University of Huddersfield's team provided specialist staff input (know-how of academic literature, new materials and processes, analytical techniques, etc.) and also a range of characterisation facilities for the developed textile heaters. This will help the partner to thoroughly investigate the performance of the heaters and find out optimum processing parameters. Also, through in-depth characterisation and analysis, the partner will be able to understand what new materials can be used to further improve the performance up to the targeted level.
Collaborator Contribution Conductive Transfers Ltd. made contributions in this project by providing staff time (managerial & administrative), technician time, materials (fabrics, inks, etc.) and machines for sample production and their optimisation.
Impact The project has not started yet. It has been delayed due to COVID-19 .Currently, the contract preparation process is going on and the project has been scheduled to start in June, 2021 and will run for 12 months. Further information will be provided in due course.
Start Year 2021
 
Description FFF Responsive R&D Call 2: HSSMI Org 
Organisation Burberry Group PLC
Country United Kingdom 
Sector Private 
PI Contribution Leather has become a more common commodity in automotive trim. Currently it can't be separated from other materials and at its end of life its destination is the Automobile Shredded Residue pile. As a valuable commodity, the reuse of leather will generate further revenue streams and reduce demand for new material, going some way to reducing demand on animals for hides. This project has been put together as a cross industry effort to confirm a solution, low volume leather returns on a stable supply can be reused creating both value, awareness and setting the way for others to follow. My involvement is to provide insight into the circular supply chain and map this out for the project.
Collaborator Contribution This project has been put together as a cross industry effort to confirm a solution, low volume leather returns on a stable supply can be reused creating both value, awareness and setting the way for others to follow. The partners will contribute in three ways: provide used leather, designing fashion clothing from the used leather, adopting the designs for commercial manufacturing.
Impact The project is still underway. The project is multidisciplinary as it brings together a number of disciplines: science, social sciences, design
Start Year 2020
 
Description FFF Responsive R&D Call 2: HSSMI Org 
Organisation HSSMI
Country United Kingdom 
Sector Private 
PI Contribution Leather has become a more common commodity in automotive trim. Currently it can't be separated from other materials and at its end of life its destination is the Automobile Shredded Residue pile. As a valuable commodity, the reuse of leather will generate further revenue streams and reduce demand for new material, going some way to reducing demand on animals for hides. This project has been put together as a cross industry effort to confirm a solution, low volume leather returns on a stable supply can be reused creating both value, awareness and setting the way for others to follow. My involvement is to provide insight into the circular supply chain and map this out for the project.
Collaborator Contribution This project has been put together as a cross industry effort to confirm a solution, low volume leather returns on a stable supply can be reused creating both value, awareness and setting the way for others to follow. The partners will contribute in three ways: provide used leather, designing fashion clothing from the used leather, adopting the designs for commercial manufacturing.
Impact The project is still underway. The project is multidisciplinary as it brings together a number of disciplines: science, social sciences, design
Start Year 2020
 
Description FFF Responsive R&D Call 2: HSSMI Org 
Organisation Lear Corporation
Country United States 
Sector Private 
PI Contribution Leather has become a more common commodity in automotive trim. Currently it can't be separated from other materials and at its end of life its destination is the Automobile Shredded Residue pile. As a valuable commodity, the reuse of leather will generate further revenue streams and reduce demand for new material, going some way to reducing demand on animals for hides. This project has been put together as a cross industry effort to confirm a solution, low volume leather returns on a stable supply can be reused creating both value, awareness and setting the way for others to follow. My involvement is to provide insight into the circular supply chain and map this out for the project.
Collaborator Contribution This project has been put together as a cross industry effort to confirm a solution, low volume leather returns on a stable supply can be reused creating both value, awareness and setting the way for others to follow. The partners will contribute in three ways: provide used leather, designing fashion clothing from the used leather, adopting the designs for commercial manufacturing.
Impact The project is still underway. The project is multidisciplinary as it brings together a number of disciplines: science, social sciences, design
Start Year 2020
 
Description FFF Responsive R&D Call 2: Nomad Designerwear Ltd. Web based digital applications for independent UK fashion manufacturers. 
Organisation Nomad Atelier
Country United Kingdom 
Sector Private 
PI Contribution The University of Huddersfield are inputting staff expertise (both academic and technical) & equipment resource into this project.
Collaborator Contribution The company is inputting significant staff time into the project and will provide access to sample garments etc, throughout.
Impact Although this project has yet to complete it is anticipated that the following outcomes will be achieved. The business anticipates this will deliver across several different aspects to assist with securing the long term future of a high value fashion brand and offer a template for other smaller scale design/manufacture based retailers, facing increasing challenges within the market space that they operate, to adopt innovative technology which drives sales. Primarily this would be considered to be: • Insight of the benefits of the best technology to adopt; • New capability to engage customers in a more inclusive and immersive level; • Insight into the investment required to develop the online capability; • Support succession planning; • Drive sustainable and successful growth of the brand for the long term; • Present opportunities for young designers.
Start Year 2020
 
Description FFF Responsive R&D Call 2: Something Wicked Ltd. Upscaling hand-crafted fashion garment production through the integration of digital technologies. 
Organisation Something Wicked
Country United Kingdom 
Sector Private 
PI Contribution The University of Huddersfield is providing input in terms of staff expertise (both academic and technical) and equipment/software.
Collaborator Contribution The company is providing input in terms of staff time & access to facilities and processes.
Impact This project was active ?? to December 2020. The anticipated outcomes at incepetion were as follows. Holistically the business will benefit on a number of levels and the project is expected to deliver in several ways to achieve the desired outcome. Primarily these would be considered to be: • A detailed analysis report to support the business to embed digital technology within the production unit; • Significantly increased awareness of the technology available; • Technology implementation plan with a full understanding of the investment required; • Appreciation of the skills development required to compliment the deployment of new production techniques; • Enhanced capability to apply technology within the business.
Start Year 2020
 
Description FFF Responsive R&D Call 2: WT Johnson Ltd. Intelligent sensing system for weft misalignment detection. 
Organisation WT Johnson and Sons Ltd
Country United Kingdom 
Sector Private 
PI Contribution This research team will endeavour to develop a sensory system which utilises optical sensors to collect various types of fabric information such as colour, IR reflection and light reflection/refraction and by comparing levels of dissimilarity in the measurements it will be able to detect the existence and extent of weft misalignment. The concept will also then consider how this information can be relayed to roller actuators to make automatic adjustments to the cloth to ensure perfect weft alignment immediately prior to entry into the finishing machine and final setting.
Collaborator Contribution WT Johnson are a key service provider in the textile supply chain with high levels of expertise in finishing premium fabrics for some of the UK's top cloth manufacturers. WT Johnson will provide expertise and experience on the problem identification and analysis of distortion and misalignment of the weft in the end product, they will also provide machinery and textile products for the trail of the system developed, including the production time taken to trial the new system in their production line.
Impact It is expected that the project will deliver a successful outcome on addressing the core issue around rectifying weft distortion and misalignment prior to final finishing of the cloth.
Start Year 2021
 
Description FFF Responsive R&D Call 2: WT Johnson Ltd. Intelligent sensing system for weft misalignment detection. 
Organisation WT Johnson and Sons Ltd
Country United Kingdom 
Sector Private 
PI Contribution This research team will endeavour to develop a sensory system which utilises optical sensors to collect various types of fabric information such as colour, IR reflection and light reflection/refraction and by comparing levels of dissimilarity in the measurements it will be able to detect the existence and extent of weft misalignment. The concept will also then consider how this information can be relayed to roller actuators to make automatic adjustments to the cloth to ensure perfect weft alignment immediately prior to entry into the finishing machine and final setting.
Collaborator Contribution WT Johnson are a key service provider in the textile supply chain with high levels of expertise in finishing premium fabrics for some of the UK's top cloth manufacturers. WT Johnson will provide expertise and experience on the problem identification and analysis of distortion and misalignment of the weft in the end product, they will also provide machinery and textile products for the trail of the system developed, including the production time taken to trial the new system in their production line.
Impact It is expected that the project will deliver a successful outcome on addressing the core issue around rectifying weft distortion and misalignment prior to final finishing of the cloth.
Start Year 2021
 
Description FFF Responsive R&D Call 3 Project: 12 Oaks. Developing new models and systems for 3D design to manufacture 
Organisation University of Leeds
Country United Kingdom 
Sector Academic/University 
PI Contribution This project will prove the user needs of systems intended to shorten supply chains and support the reshoring of UK manufacturing via digital systems. The project will focus on developing understanding of a digital thinking, developing a new skillset and understanding of the product development processes required for 3D woven garment production, exploring the systems required to support the re-designing of designer-manufacturer-consumer relationships. We propose a collaboration of multidisciplinary skills through industry focussed workshops informing about the technical capabilities of 3D weave technologies and how they can be shared more easily to improve and streamline those systems through digital tutorials. Susan Postlethwaite, Senior Fashion Tutor brings expertise in fashion womenswear design. Dr Lindsey Taylor bring expertise in 3D wovens. These two sets of fashion and textiles expertise compliment each other as a unique combination across disciplines which are usually conflated in many peoples minds, but are often siloed and operate very separately.
Collaborator Contribution The project deliverables will inform academic and industry partners to develop future commercial and research outputs as well as further funding applications through the combined tangible outputs that provide new understanding for the future models and systems required to develop 3D design to manufacture a commercial process within UK industry: Opportunity for digital tools / systems development is needed - an understanding of the user needs through requirements capture research to communicate from design and manufacturing perspectives) of what digital tools / systems development is needed. Defining and Understanding Digital Thinking requirements - by future designers to engage with proposed future 3D woven digital creative to manufacture systems through the identification of the new skillset and understanding of the product development processes required for 3D woven garment production and exploring the systems required to support the re-designing of designer-manufacturer-consumer relationships. User needs of future digital systems for 3D weave technologies in defining the digital thinking and skills required by designers to work within these new future systems, it is envisaged 12Oaks will be able to development new products and ultimately increase company revenue.
Impact Multidisciplinary - Fashion/ Textiles/ Computing
Start Year 2021
 
Description FFF Responsive R&D Call 3: 
Organisation Royal College of Art
Country United Kingdom 
Sector Academic/University 
PI Contribution The use of colour for fashion and textiles from either natural or synthetic sources is widely criticised for water, chemical and energy use during manufacturing stages. Colour and pattern are key drivers for desirability driving sales by consumers, yet there is a lack of industry innovation for future sustainable coloration processes. Rather than aiming to replicate the availability, technical performance and aesthetic appearance of synthetic dyes, this project will focus on the chemistry of the natural sources of pigments to be used within a holistic life cycle approach to investigate the new properties and aesthetic exploitation opportunities of a future sustainable printing system. Cellulosic, synthetic and protein fibres will be trialled using both screen and sublimation printing techniques and the potential to develop coloured films using bio-polyurethane binders will be explored.
Collaborator Contribution Commercial viability will be explored through collaborating with industry partners in the development of pilot-scale commercial prototypes using the developed aesthetic, supply and production processes. The future coloration system will also be captured through a communication tool for consumers.
Impact none
Start Year 2021
 
Description FFF Responsive R&D Call 3: 
Organisation Ushiwear Clothing Limited
Country United Kingdom 
Sector Private 
PI Contribution The use of colour for fashion and textiles from either natural or synthetic sources is widely criticised for water, chemical and energy use during manufacturing stages. Colour and pattern are key drivers for desirability driving sales by consumers, yet there is a lack of industry innovation for future sustainable coloration processes. Rather than aiming to replicate the availability, technical performance and aesthetic appearance of synthetic dyes, this project will focus on the chemistry of the natural sources of pigments to be used within a holistic life cycle approach to investigate the new properties and aesthetic exploitation opportunities of a future sustainable printing system. Cellulosic, synthetic and protein fibres will be trialled using both screen and sublimation printing techniques and the potential to develop coloured films using bio-polyurethane binders will be explored.
Collaborator Contribution Commercial viability will be explored through collaborating with industry partners in the development of pilot-scale commercial prototypes using the developed aesthetic, supply and production processes. The future coloration system will also be captured through a communication tool for consumers.
Impact none
Start Year 2021
 
Description FFF Responsive R&D Call 3: Amphibio Ltd "100% recyclable waterproof breathable garment manufactured using 3D knitting technology" 
Organisation Amphibio Ltd
Country United Kingdom 
Sector Private 
PI Contribution The University of Leeds is contributing to Work Packages 1 & 3 of this project. WP1 will develop a situation fibre thread, and WP3 support direct fabrication of the nonwoven waterproof breathable layer. The University will provide know-how, technical expertise and access to lab facilities.
Collaborator Contribution Waterproof Breathable Textile (WBT) is heavily used in the outdoor industry with 300- 500 million sqm produced annually. However, the multilayer and multi-material nature of the WBT makes it almost impossible to recycle and does not satisfy the sustainability requirements of outdoor users without compromising on performance. We are developing a circular alternative to existing WBT, by using a fluorine-free polymer to create both the fabric and the waterproof membrane to enhance its recyclability, and by introducing 3D knitting as a manufacturing process to reduce any offcut waste. Our alternative WBT has the potential to perform against existing PTFE based WBT. (Public Statement)
Impact TECHNOLOGY: Patent filing for the manufacturing method and material combination. IP on the usage of the PTFE replacement material as a WBT/WBG and on novel manufacturing method for WBG using a combination of 3D knitting and direct non-woven waterproof layer fabrication using melt-spinning or electro-spinning. OTHERS: Developed business model and route-to-market strategy. Connection to industry and manufacturers in preparation for future steps toward commercialisation of the technology. On this basis, the business has made links to and is in early discussion with a key UK-brand and supply chain fabric processing partners associated with a number of target clients with a view to collaboration in exploiting the novel technology and route to commercialisation.
Start Year 2021
 
Description FFF Responsive R&D Call 3: Artificial Intelligence Driven Production Planning System 
Organisation Abraham Moon & Sons
Country United Kingdom 
Sector Private 
PI Contribution The project is likely to be focused on cloth production in the first instance as we have a full-time Planning Manager that spends time continuously producing production schedules within Excel. In the future, this role will need to plan production for the whole mill, but at the moment this is not feasible. The Planning Manager would also be a large part of the project implementation and his knowledge and expertise would be critical to the project being a success. The academic support required for the whole programme would consist of: • A Production Scheduling student • A Software Programmer
Collaborator Contribution the partner will provide support of historic planning system, the existing production requirements and business models and all technical and business support needed, as inkind contribution to the research
Impact the project is in the process of drafting legal documents
Start Year 2021
 
Description FFF Responsive R&D Call 3: British Wool "High Value Uses for British Wool: Functionalised Face-Coverings" 
Organisation British Wool Marketing Board
Country United Kingdom 
Sector Charity/Non Profit 
PI Contribution The academic input is led by the University of Huddersfield (Prof. P. Goswami, PI) and supported by the University of Leeds (Prof S. Russell, Co-I). University of Leeds support Work Package 1, Fabric proto-typing using nonwoven methodologies. University of Huddersfield support Work Packages 2 - 4 which work on fabric functionalisation (WP2), testing (WP3) and Life-Cycle Analysis (WP4) Both universities bring know-how, technical expertise and access to lab facilities.
Collaborator Contribution The project aims to design a reusable functionalised face covering fabric for the general public based on British wool and UK manufacturing supply chains capable of addressing the combined needs of (a) a defined level of filter efficiency, (b) long-term thermo-physical wearer comfort and (c) highly attractive aesthetics with personalisation capabilities, consistent with face-coverings becoming a new fashion accessory. The latter is also motivated by a desire to maximise compliance with the wearing of such face-coverings in public spaces. This will not only help the UK Government's on-shoring/re-shoring agenda but will also encompass a focus on the northern manufacturing power house base for producing novel technologies for topical markets. (Public Statement) British Wool brings know-how, materials and networks.
Impact Exemplifier Product and Agile Manufacturing Framework: This project will allow British Wool to find new alternative uses for coarse British wool through the exemplifier timely fashion product proposed in the work. This project will also develop a framework, using face mask as an exemplifier product, for agile production and research in the UK. Social Benefits to the UK farmers: British Wool is the lead industry partner/applicant on this project. As a farmer's co-operative representing 35,000 sheep farmers across UK, all members will indirectly benefit from the project. Direct benefit will be to 25,000 traditional sheep farmers who produce a coarser wool. Any IP generated from this project will be shared between the introducing parties using Lambert agreement and will bring new revenue streams for British wool, which will impact not just the 25,000 farmers benefitting directly from this project but the whole 35,000 farmers across the UK. Scientific Outcome: There will be many novel scientific outcomes from this project, for example, from WP2 where novel industrially relevant functionalisation techniques will be developed using nano-functionalisation. Moreover, Bacterial Filtration Efficiency tested as part of EN 14683 standard will let the research team document some fundamental unreported understanding of the interactions between the bacterial and the wool fibres.
Start Year 2021
 
Description FFF Responsive R&D Call 3: DP Dyers Ltd "Innovation in Traditional Fabric Dyeing" 
Organisation DP Dyers Ltd
Country United Kingdom 
Sector Private 
PI Contribution University of Leeds input is led by Prof. Stephen Westland, the FFF Core Research Theme Leader for 'Data Driven Design / AI' Position: Professor of Colour Science and Technology, Director of Research and Innovation. Areas of expertise: colour science; machine learning; colour imaging; colour design; lighting; health and wellbeing. Steve brings many years experience in the field, including previous work with industrial partners.
Collaborator Contribution DP Dyers are a commission piece dyeing business established 1928, they are a key part of the Yorkshire textile supply chain. They seek the use of innovative digital technologies to assist in the control of dyeing variables and improve shade matching and continuity. This will produce a smarter product and more reliable supply. As a well-known commission dyeing option, those gains would immediately be passed on to the Yorkshire textile sector. (Public Statement) Industrial partner brings in-house expertise, premises facilities & staff know-how.
Impact The aim is to increase performance in piece dyeing to produce solid shade fabrics which have high levels of colour continuity and accuracy against customers' requirements. This is always the primary objective within the production environment but prevailing conditions result in a high level of variables which make this challenging. The aim is to analyse the variables that exist to identify where they can be mitigated against or removed as barriers which restrict the business in its ambitions to improve performance across the piece dyeing operation. The overall uplift in performance that this will achieve would have considerable and far reaching positive impacts. This would include: *Vastly improved quality through increased "right first time" work. *Increased productivity through smoother workflow *Increased resource efficiency through significantly decreasing reworks and utilities/human resources required in reprocessing *Improved production planning and the ability to deliver on time in full to challenging customer time scales
Start Year 2021
 
Description FFF Responsive R&D Call 3: GameStyle - Developing a revenue share model for the convergence of games and fashion 
Organisation Lockwood Publishing Ltd
Country United Kingdom 
Sector Private 
PI Contribution The project led by the Royal College of Art research team with Dr Dawn Ellams as Principle investigator and Zowie Broach as Co-Investigator explored the convergence of games and fashion, and how real world fashion assets could be monetised through games to bring new revenue streams to new and emerging designers. The primary focus of the project was to develop an IP licensing framework to allow protection for designer's creative works within a game context, bringing together stakeholders from Fashion, Games and Law to develop use cases and market studies to qualify and quantify the benefits to UK Fashion & Games Sectors. The research also explored the requirements for creative digital tools to allow designers to create 3d fashion assets.
Collaborator Contribution Lockwood Publishing analysed the current Revenue Share Model used by games companies to engage with designers and monetise assets. Sheridans developed recommendations for the Intellectual property framework that needs to be put in place to create a revenue stream for designers that supports designers intellectual property rights.
Impact The multidiscipline collaboration resulted in the following outputs: Value Chain for SME Fashion Designers to engage with the Gaming sector (Disciplines: Fashion Design, Law, Business) Demystifying IP through contract recommendations for future template development (Disciplines: Fashion Design, Law, Business) Insights into the design tools required for future 3D design creation (Disciplines: Fashion Design, Gaming)
Start Year 2021
 
Description FFF Responsive R&D Call 3: Numerion Software Ltd. Virtual 3D Garment Draping as a Service. 
Organisation Numerion Software Limited
Country United Kingdom 
Sector Private 
PI Contribution WP1: Focus group type research using UoL academic staff & contacts with a range of individual designers and brands. The objective of this piece of work is to consider how valuable the proposed service would be to the assembled cohort, exactly how would individual designers / brands use the proposed service, how they would they prefer to interact with it and how would it integrate with their current workflow / asset management / e-commerce etc. WP4: Take the functional prototype developed in WP3 and trial it in real time with the selected cohort from WP1. Outcomes will influence (a) further development work required to address any concerns around functionality and frictionless operability (b) Report on the challenges uncovered facing the fashion industry as they seek to embrace live 3D simulation (c) inform applicant's thinking around routes to commercialisation (WP5)
Collaborator Contribution WP2: User-Interface development based upon outcomes from WP1 WP3: Connect the carbon-draping service to the User-Interface Technical development work to implement the findings from the academic focus group discussions. **project ran January - December 2021.
Impact Case study being written up at the moment. Project will result in new service being launched by the industrial partner. Academic paper 'Virtual 3D Garment Draping as a Service' accepted for publication in Special Edition Merchandising Technologies / Fashion, Style and Popular Culture
Start Year 2021
 
Description FFF Responsive R&D Call 3: Ruby Moon Ltd. Development of a Superior Polyamide Yarn 
Organisation Ruby Moon Ltd
Country United Kingdom 
Sector Private 
PI Contribution The University of Leeds (Dr Muhammad Tausif) would bring expertise in the identification and testing of post-consumer waste. Furthermore, the input would include exploration of separation technologies and potential for the development of fibres from waste. The University will provide know-how, technical expertise and access to lab facilities.
Collaborator Contribution A feasibility study: A circular manufactured yarn for commercial, environmental and social benefit. This study will explore the best approach to create a new superior polyamide (PA6) from waste nylon (activewear) clothing via chemical breakdown and reconstitution and to explore nano additive manufacturing to develop a superior performance yarn including, but not limited to, the following benefits, already proven in similar materials: • Increased durability and eliminate the shedding of microfibres at source; • Increased elasticity to remove the need for elastane in stretch clothing; • Adding a nano trace for future ID & recycling; • Reduce the amount of dyestuffs necessary. (Public Statement) Industrial partner brings expertise, connectivity & raw materials
Impact This project will do some of the feasibility work required to kick-start a culture change within the UK Fashion & Textile sector, putting in place building blocks so that retailers and manufacturers have a clear idea of what could technically be possible so that they can become more environmentally sustainable in their approach to recycling, re-use, and manufacturing.
Start Year 2021
 
Description FFF Responsive R&D Call 3: SaltyCo Ltd "Investigation into the use of Sea-Fibres for Stuffing Materials" 
Organisation SaltyCo
Country United Kingdom 
Sector Private 
PI Contribution The main objective to be addressed in this work is to determine the feasibility of converting the extracted fibres into prototype products, specifically filling materials. The purpose is to quantitatively assess the physical properties and moisture relations of the saline-grown and plant extracted fibres (as well as after incorporation in nonwoven waddings). This will also examine the compatibility of the fibres with key process machinery required for the preparation of fibre fill. The key parameters to measure relate to their potential utility as fibre fillings: primary material properties, apparel/domestic performance & industry properties. These data will be benchmarked with samples made of PET, duck/goose down, wool, cotton and FLWRDWN™.
Collaborator Contribution SaltyCo is developing the use of salt-tolerant plants to generate fibres as a feedstock for textile manufacture. Our goal is to reduce the huge amount of freshwater used in the fashion industry. In collaboration with FFF we would like to investigate the use of fibres from a selection of salt-tolerant species as a fill material for insulated clothing. This would provide a vegan, petroleum-free alternative to down or polyester. We have investigated the raw, ginned fibres and found good thermal insulating properties and hydrophobicity. In this PoM project we aim to fully characterise our fibres and benchmark them against competitors, identifying areas for improvement. (Public Statement)
Impact The expected deliverables for this project are: 1. An in depth understanding of fibre properties at three levels: primary, apparel/ domestic and industrial properties 2. Benchmarking these properties against SaltyCo's main competitors 3. Create a summary report using these findings to assess suitability as a stuffing material. 4. Developed knowledge about introducing SaltyCo fill material to the industry.
Start Year 2021
 
Description FFF Responsive R&D Call 3: Visualist Ltd "Navigation Fashion Collections: How to Search for Inspiration" 
Organisation Visualist Technologies Ltd
Country United Kingdom 
Sector Private 
PI Contribution University of Leeds input will be led by Prof. Stephen Westland, supported by a dedicated Research Assistant. Steve brings his academic expertise and experience in Machine Learning, Colour Theory & Algorithm development.
Collaborator Contribution Designers collect large amounts of visual inspiration digitally. When browsing their collections, keyword-searching is usually the default, but that assumes that they know what they want to search for. In many cases, they are seeking creative stimulus: they want to explore items connected to the initial search domain, but which they might not have considered before. Also, what if they like to "look"; and don't like to "search"? Visualist unlocks value in the designer's creative process by improving serendipitous informational retrieval. If a designer is looking for inspiration, how can we provide this, and how might we display "inspiration"? In this project, we specifically explore: *how colour search and navigation can provide inspiration for a designer's creative process; and *how to incorporate colour design in their workflows to increase productivity. (Public Statement) Industrial Partner brings existing technology, connectivity and resources/staff know-how
Impact There are two key project deliverables: new technology: a custom machine learning algorithm developed in collaboration with Leeds University; and new prototype: a working version of the Visualist platform incorporating the machine learning technology. For Visualist specifically, the R&D enables: an increase in employment of R&D-focused staff the launch of a new revenue-generating product feature expanded target market increased revenues:
Start Year 2020
 
Description FFF Responsive R&D Call 3: VivoBarefoot Ltd "MYVIVO: R&D and pilot trial of customizable, made-to-measure 3D printed barefoot shoes" 
Organisation VivoBarefoot Ltd
Country United Kingdom 
Sector Private 
PI Contribution RCA brought expertise in circular materials and systems innovation for future manufacturing and business models as well as 3D print design for additive manufacturing. The research team was led by Anne Toomey with Dr. Elif Ozden-Yenigun as Co-I and Clive Grinyer bringing his expertise in Service Design. The RCA brought expertise in facilitating complex industry and academia collaborations within a the cross discipline setting to synergies the relationship between Textile Design, Service Design, and the industry partner VivoBarefoot within this research project. In this project RCA led on 1) product design (outsole design and fitting), 2) product manufacturing (3D-printing & engineered knitting) 3) business models innovation (subscription/rental).
Collaborator Contribution Vivobarefoot is a purpose-driven company with a regenerative mission at its core to reconnect people & planet making thin, wide and flexible footwear. Current project will R&D and pilot trial customizable, made-to-measure 3D printed shoes based on barefoot biomechanics. In this project they supported the development and trial of 1) product design (outsole design and fitting), 2) product manufacturing (3D-printing & engineered knitting) and led on 3) product end-of-life management.
Impact The RCA driven research will developed a closed loop user centric model that enables the consumer to engage with the design and manufacture to meet their unique needs through new digital engagement informed by Service Design principles. Further research is being explored through a KTN application. A master class for the RCA Textile course; Recent fashion graduate Eva Lili Bartha gave an expert talk with Dali on 'Immaterial Materiality' on 20th October 2021. The ongoing inclusion of this master class is planned with the speaker / facilitator to have the expert profile type of similar.
Start Year 2021
 
Description FFF Responsive R&D Call 3: hydrocotton Ltd. hydrocotton - cotton fibre industry baselining 
Organisation HydroCotton Ltd
Country United Kingdom 
Sector Private 
PI Contribution The University of Leeds (Dr Muhammad Tausif) would bring expertise in the benchmarking of produced cotton fibres. This would involve detailed testing and characterisation of fibre properties and conversion of the fibres into textile assemblies at laboratory/pilot scale. The University will provide know-how, technical expertise and access to lab facilities.
Collaborator Contribution Cotton is a key fibre for textile, in particular consumer, applications with 24 million tonnes use last year. hydroCotton's novel approach to cotton agriculture has the potential to radically decrease environmental stresses of the traditional cotton production while increasing yield and fibre quality. hydroCotton's farming approach applies technology to remove 'speed bumps' during the 3 month process of cotton boll formation. The technology can produce sustainable raw material with improved fibre quality with higher economic value. The key aims are: • Manufacture novel harvesting and ginning mechanisms focusing on maintaining fibre quality and reducing contamination; • Fibre and yarn characterisation and testing to baseline against 'standard' market equivalents, combined with t-shirt demonstrator for comparative testing. (Public Statement) Industrial partner brings expertise, industrial connectivity & raw materials
Impact hC cotton fibre has the potential to be novel, sustainable material, balancing both radically resource-efficient farming and high-quality fibre outputs. This project will enable the best farming, harvesting, ginning and yarn spinning techniques to be established to showcase hC fibre to the global industry. As a UK based innovation project, this could once again position the UK globally as a market leader for cotton agricultural techniques, fibre processing and yarn spinning.
Start Year 2021
 
Description FFF Responsive R&D Call 4: Digitoile 
Organisation Autodesk
Country United States 
Sector Private 
PI Contribution The research led by Prof Susan Postlethwaite as Principle Investigator based at Manchester Metropolitan University and Dr Dawn Ellams as Co-Investigator based at the Royal College of Art is working with fashion designers and software developers to develop a digital platform that enables fashion designers to develop 3D digital experimentation, harnessing opportunities in creative digital design and liberating digital and non-digital designers from physical and wasteful processes. The academic research will inform the development of the prototype software to understand the creative tools and needs of both designers and users to create within digital spaces.
Collaborator Contribution Digitoile Ltd will explore current workflows and skills requirements of existing 3D software. Autodesk will provide the research team with access to the global fellowship programme and any required softwares for trialling. Dubit will build the prototype.
Impact Outputs from the project will be developed in a multi disciplinary collaboration with fashion design and software engineering. Functioning Prototype - Demonstrating the effectiveness of the principles of the entire project: accessibility, usability, sustainability, direct relevance for creativity in Fashion design.
Start Year 2022
 
Description FFF Responsive R&D Call 4: Digitoile 
Organisation Dubit
Country United Kingdom 
Sector Private 
PI Contribution The research led by Prof Susan Postlethwaite as Principle Investigator based at Manchester Metropolitan University and Dr Dawn Ellams as Co-Investigator based at the Royal College of Art is working with fashion designers and software developers to develop a digital platform that enables fashion designers to develop 3D digital experimentation, harnessing opportunities in creative digital design and liberating digital and non-digital designers from physical and wasteful processes. The academic research will inform the development of the prototype software to understand the creative tools and needs of both designers and users to create within digital spaces.
Collaborator Contribution Digitoile Ltd will explore current workflows and skills requirements of existing 3D software. Autodesk will provide the research team with access to the global fellowship programme and any required softwares for trialling. Dubit will build the prototype.
Impact Outputs from the project will be developed in a multi disciplinary collaboration with fashion design and software engineering. Functioning Prototype - Demonstrating the effectiveness of the principles of the entire project: accessibility, usability, sustainability, direct relevance for creativity in Fashion design.
Start Year 2022
 
Description FFF Responsive R&D Call 4: Ruby Moon Design CIC Ltd. "Development of a Superior Polyamide Yarn - Proof of Concept" 
Organisation Ruby Moon Ltd
Country United Kingdom 
Sector Private 
PI Contribution Dr Muhammad Tausif brings academic expertise: Microplastic textile pollution; Yarn manufacturing; fibre spinning; structure-property modelling of fibrous assemblies (incl. nonwovens); sustainable textile manufacturing; textile composites. https://ahc.leeds.ac.uk/design/staff/476/dr-muhammad-tausif
Collaborator Contribution The industrial collaborators, brought together by Ruby Moon, bring a wealth of commercial expertise and the willingness to collaborate on this challenge which is key to sustainability for this part of the sector.
Impact RubyMoon aim to launch a new product category whilst incorporating complete design for circularity. This Proof of Concept will further explore and determine the best approach to create a new superior polyamide (PA6) from stretch waste nylon (swimwear) clothing via chemical breakdown and reconstitution. This is in collaboration with UoL and AMD Ltd who are experts in fibre spinning and functional fillers for composites respectively. To explore the process of extracting secondary polyamide from elastane using mechanical and chemical means. It will also explore the feasibility of spinning these materials into fibres with nanoscopic tracer materials to aid traceability requirements. (PUBLIC STATEMENT) Detailed findings and recommendations for the creation of a new superior polyamide (PA6) from stretch waste nylon (swimwear) clothing via chemical breakdown and reconstitution. The aim is to identify new work methods and new capability for use of green chemistry to separate polyamide from elastane and to allow incorporation of nanoparticles during wet-spinning for added traceability. (PROJECT OUTCOMES)
Start Year 2022
 
Description FFF Responsive R&D Call 5: An Intelligent System for the Online Detection and Alerting of Weft Misalignment in Pattern Fabrics 
Organisation WT Johnson and Sons Ltd
Country United Kingdom 
Sector Private 
PI Contribution Following up the success of our PoC project in FFF Call 2, we propose to further improve the newly developed system, to make it able to intelligently-recognise specific fabric patterns and their pattern features and then determine the setting up parameters of the image analysis system. It is expected that the improved system will be commercially applied in WT Johnson's current fabric finishing manufacture line, and then could be commercialised in the textile industry in similar manufacturing scenarios. we will carry out the following research activities, Development of a camera calibration method for optimised image acquisition; Develop a algoithm for the recognition of features of fabric patterns - Types of fabric frequently processed will be identified by WT Johnson; Development of ML algorithm for the improved detection of misaligned weft yarns; Development of a detection feedback system: the detection feedback system will be developed for either alerting the operator or stopping the targeted machine when a weft misalignment is detected; System integration, evaluation and validation of the system.
Collaborator Contribution W.T.Johnson will provide , (1) professional advice, consultancy and feedback to the research team based on their expertise and knowledge in textile product and manufacture; (2) wool fabric samples and wool finishing production lines for the installation and trial of the systems developed; (3) workforce to experiment the prototype of the system developed; (4) neccessary materials, IT service, machinery and examination tools on site for the experiment carried out in W. T. Johnson
Impact the project is about to start, still in the recruitment process
Start Year 2022
 
Description FFF Responsive R&D Call 5: Burberry PLC "Burberry Future Colour Communication" 
Organisation Burberry Group PLC
Country United Kingdom 
Sector Private 
PI Contribution Academics from the University of Leeds will provide expertise in colour science & technology, colour measurement, data-driven design and improvements in digital design productivity. The project PI is Dr Phil Henry, the Co-I Prof. Stephen Westland.
Collaborator Contribution Burberry PLC brings the commercial expertise and manufacturing expertise from throughout their UK supply chain.
Impact The project aims to develop an innovative technology-driven digital communication workflow for colour management that delivers colour integrity throughout the product journey - from the creator's mind, through manufacturing, and until the end product. It will apply artificial intelligence (deep machine learning) and advanced technology to colour data, and deliver precise colour outcomes that will improve efficiency, reduce wastage, and be more sustainable while also contributing to cost savings. It will eliminate human errors of colour perception, interpretation, and communication, to facilitate shorter manufacturing times while being sustainable. The project will also enable better creative collaboration and control with manufacturing expected 2.5 tonnes CO2 reduction by eliminating distribution of physical colour standards and moving it to digital. It will align readings from various spectrophotometers, including different geometries and smart mobile spectrophotometers (colorimeters not in scope for this project) (Public Statement) This project will produce a new methodology for controlling colour throughout a luxury fashion & textile supply chain. At project end the methodology and system produced will be ready for deployment within Burberry's UK-based supply chain. (Outcome)
Start Year 2022
 
Description FFF Responsive R&D Call 5: Colour Management in Circular Economy: Dye Recycle and Recovery from Textile Waste 
Organisation Biorenewables Development Centre
Country United Kingdom 
Sector Charity/Non Profit 
PI Contribution The research led by Dr Dawn Ellams at the Royal College of Art and collaborating with Dr Sohel Rana at the Textile Centre of Excellence, University of Huddersfield will explore the process developed by DyeRecycle - a chemical technology creating sustainable dyeing solutions using textile waste. The research led by the Royal College of Art aims to demonstrate the technology by recycling dyes from pre- consumer textile waste, identifying opportunities for uptake within existing supply chains and creating a series of demonstrator scenarios and prototype products.
Collaborator Contribution DyeRecycle will develop and provide the solvent required for the dye capture and re-dying. Camira Fabrics will provide pre-consumer textile waste. Biorenewables Development Centre in York will conduct the scale-up, trials will demonstrate textile waste decolourisation and subsequent dyeing of new fabrics. University of Huddersfield will conduct material characterisation, establishing performance and quality standards of textile who have underdone the decolorisation and recolorisation.
Impact The project outputs will be developed within a cross discipline collaboration, linking textile and fashion designers with textile technologists and engineers. The project will demonstrate a new dyeing and textile decolourisation technology at scale, an essential milestone in chemical process development. Product demonstration and prototypes will be produced at scale which is essential to showcase future investors and conduct comprehensive characterisation. The technical viability of this alternative business model which explores the use of recycled dyes in powder form will be explored. Product technical specifications to inform future R&D and highlight process strengths. The product/business roadmap based on the input and feedback from SME on textile waste. Establishing a supply chain in the UK Designing commercially appealing products and service model.
Start Year 2022
 
Description FFF Responsive R&D Call 5: Colour Management in Circular Economy: Dye Recycle and Recovery from Textile Waste 
Organisation Camira Fabrics Ltd
Country United Kingdom 
Sector Private 
PI Contribution The research led by Dr Dawn Ellams at the Royal College of Art and collaborating with Dr Sohel Rana at the Textile Centre of Excellence, University of Huddersfield will explore the process developed by DyeRecycle - a chemical technology creating sustainable dyeing solutions using textile waste. The research led by the Royal College of Art aims to demonstrate the technology by recycling dyes from pre- consumer textile waste, identifying opportunities for uptake within existing supply chains and creating a series of demonstrator scenarios and prototype products.
Collaborator Contribution DyeRecycle will develop and provide the solvent required for the dye capture and re-dying. Camira Fabrics will provide pre-consumer textile waste. Biorenewables Development Centre in York will conduct the scale-up, trials will demonstrate textile waste decolourisation and subsequent dyeing of new fabrics. University of Huddersfield will conduct material characterisation, establishing performance and quality standards of textile who have underdone the decolorisation and recolorisation.
Impact The project outputs will be developed within a cross discipline collaboration, linking textile and fashion designers with textile technologists and engineers. The project will demonstrate a new dyeing and textile decolourisation technology at scale, an essential milestone in chemical process development. Product demonstration and prototypes will be produced at scale which is essential to showcase future investors and conduct comprehensive characterisation. The technical viability of this alternative business model which explores the use of recycled dyes in powder form will be explored. Product technical specifications to inform future R&D and highlight process strengths. The product/business roadmap based on the input and feedback from SME on textile waste. Establishing a supply chain in the UK Designing commercially appealing products and service model.
Start Year 2022
 
Description FFF Responsive R&D Call 6: AW Hainsworth & Sons Ltd "Remote Evaluation and Communication of New Fabric Designs Through Digital Technologies" 
Organisation A W Hainsworth & Sons Ltd
Country United Kingdom 
Sector Private 
PI Contribution AW Hainsworth woollen mill is a specialist textile company, weaving fabrics for apparel, costume and interiors, and bespoke commissions. Designing new fabric samples for remote clients is a lengthy process involving multiple iterations of manufacturing (and sending) physical swatches, which consumes energy/raw materials and generates waste. Computer Aided Design (CAD) systems can help to visualise new fabric designs and map those fabrics onto digitalised products (e.g. clothing, upholstery), but cannot predict fabric performance (i.e. the corresponding fabric drape and 'touch feel') of the new fabric designs. This project aims to develop a system that can help remotely evaluate and communicate fabric performance of virtual fabric designs before the fabrics are made by employing digital technologies.
Collaborator Contribution Hainsworth will bring expertise of woollen fabric design and knowledges of wollen fabric performance requirements used in various applications, it also provides up to 60 different types of expansive 100% wool and wool blend woollen fabric samples for testing and characterising their properties.
Impact A database of the fabric tactile properties and their virtual garment visual appearances in Clo3D evironment; An Machine-Learning based software to predict fabric tactile properties and corresponding garment visual appearances in Clo3D evironment for the remote communication of fabric samples before their physically prototyped in the workshop.
Start Year 2022
 
Description FFF Responsive R&D Call 6: DP Dyers. Digital technologies to support the successful translation of lab recipes into bulk production at DP Dyers. 
Organisation DP Dyers Ltd
Country United Kingdom 
Sector Private 
PI Contribution Prof. Stephen Westland leads the academic research elements, supported by an experienced PDRA, Dr Melissa Morton. Their joint expertise in colouration consistency is applied in this project.
Collaborator Contribution The industrial applicant is providing staff time, equipment usage & consumables to the project. Insight into company operations and impact will be given at project end and implementation.
Impact DP Dyers have been piece dyeing since 1928 and are a fundamental player in the Yorkshire textile supply chain, providing commission piece dyeing for many prestigious fashion and textile clients. However, mass piece dyeing processes struggle to replicate lab dyeing results, leading to excessive repeat dyeing and wasted resource. This project intends to use computational modelling to analyse inconsistencies between lab and mass dyed fabrics to ascertain exactly why the lab dyeing results do not translate, and pose innovative solutions to eradicate inconsistency. Streamlining the efficacy and efficiency of this process will boast significant sustainability gains in terms of reduced waste, reduced energy and water consumption, and reduction in back and forth between fabric dyers and their customers.
Start Year 2022
 
Description FFF Responsive R&D call 2: MYKKO - Mycelium Eco Leather 
Organisation Aurelie Fontan Studio
Country United Kingdom 
Sector Private 
PI Contribution The research led by Prof Susan Postlethwaite as Principle Investigator based at Manchester Metropolitan University and Dr Dawn Ellams as Co-Investigator based at the Royal College of Art in collaboration with Dr Sohel Rana as Co-Investigator from the Textile centre of Excellence based at the University of Huddersfield developed an understanding for new manufacturing methods for future sustainable fashion bio materials and products. Recommendations for the required industry systems and business models needed to support future scalability for commercial manufacturing and use of emerging next generation sustainable materials (like the one proposed in this project) were developed.
Collaborator Contribution Burberry provided the technical standards required for textiles to achieve that they use for manufacture of accessories. Aurelie Fontan Studio developed the manufacturing unit to produce the mycelium textile. University of Huddersfield compiled technical testing results (to ISO standards) in order to produce a data report which will form the foundation for a future quality control and official accreditation process.
Impact Project outcomes will be multi-discipline from perspective of Fashion Design and Textile technology A new inoculation process, new manufacture structures, enhanced mycelium strain for mycelium textile production was developed. Circular Systems Model to provide understanding of material flows and user requirements from perspective of design, manufacture and consumer.
Start Year 2021
 
Description FFF Responsive R&D call 2: MYKKO - Mycelium Eco Leather 
Organisation Burberry Group PLC
Country United Kingdom 
Sector Private 
PI Contribution The research led by Prof Susan Postlethwaite as Principle Investigator based at Manchester Metropolitan University and Dr Dawn Ellams as Co-Investigator based at the Royal College of Art in collaboration with Dr Sohel Rana as Co-Investigator from the Textile centre of Excellence based at the University of Huddersfield developed an understanding for new manufacturing methods for future sustainable fashion bio materials and products. Recommendations for the required industry systems and business models needed to support future scalability for commercial manufacturing and use of emerging next generation sustainable materials (like the one proposed in this project) were developed.
Collaborator Contribution Burberry provided the technical standards required for textiles to achieve that they use for manufacture of accessories. Aurelie Fontan Studio developed the manufacturing unit to produce the mycelium textile. University of Huddersfield compiled technical testing results (to ISO standards) in order to produce a data report which will form the foundation for a future quality control and official accreditation process.
Impact Project outcomes will be multi-discipline from perspective of Fashion Design and Textile technology A new inoculation process, new manufacture structures, enhanced mycelium strain for mycelium textile production was developed. Circular Systems Model to provide understanding of material flows and user requirements from perspective of design, manufacture and consumer.
Start Year 2021
 
Description FFF Responsive R&D call 2: MYKKO - Mycelium Eco Leather 
Organisation University of Huddersfield
Country United Kingdom 
Sector Academic/University 
PI Contribution The research led by Prof Susan Postlethwaite as Principle Investigator based at Manchester Metropolitan University and Dr Dawn Ellams as Co-Investigator based at the Royal College of Art in collaboration with Dr Sohel Rana as Co-Investigator from the Textile centre of Excellence based at the University of Huddersfield developed an understanding for new manufacturing methods for future sustainable fashion bio materials and products. Recommendations for the required industry systems and business models needed to support future scalability for commercial manufacturing and use of emerging next generation sustainable materials (like the one proposed in this project) were developed.
Collaborator Contribution Burberry provided the technical standards required for textiles to achieve that they use for manufacture of accessories. Aurelie Fontan Studio developed the manufacturing unit to produce the mycelium textile. University of Huddersfield compiled technical testing results (to ISO standards) in order to produce a data report which will form the foundation for a future quality control and official accreditation process.
Impact Project outcomes will be multi-discipline from perspective of Fashion Design and Textile technology A new inoculation process, new manufacture structures, enhanced mycelium strain for mycelium textile production was developed. Circular Systems Model to provide understanding of material flows and user requirements from perspective of design, manufacture and consumer.
Start Year 2021
 
Description FFF Responsive R&D call 3: Future Coloration System for Fashion & Textiles 
Organisation University of Leeds
Country United Kingdom 
Sector Academic/University 
PI Contribution The use of colour for fashion and textiles from either natural or synthetic sources is widely criticised for water, chemical and energy use during manufacturing stages. Colour and pattern are key drivers for desirability driving sales by consumers, yet there is a lack of industry innovation for future sustainable coloration processes. Rather than aiming to replicate the availability, the technical performance and aesthetic appearance of synthetic dyes, this cross discipline project led by Professor Richard Blackburn from the University of Leeds and Dr Dawn Ellams from the Royal college of art will focus on the chemistry of the natural sources of pigments to be used within a holistic life cycle approach to investigate the new properties and aesthetic exploitation opportunities of a future sustainable printing system. Researchers from the Royal College of art will explore the practical application and creative possibilities of the developed natural pigments on cellulosic and protein fibres, trialling through screen printing techniques. Commercial viability will be explored through collaborating with industry partners in the development of pilot-scale commercial prototypes using the developed aesthetic, supply and production processes. The future coloration system will also be captured through a communication tool for consumers.
Collaborator Contribution The research team at University of Leeds led by Dr Richard Blackburn will identify appropriate pigments, processes, and creative techniques for a variety of textile substrates for both manufacturers and designers to work with to produce coloured fashion and textiles with sustainable credentials to inform a new coloration system for fashion and textiles. Rose Danford-Phillip: Explored the method of sustainable printing with the brands UK supply chain to manufacture a new collection and demonstrate the developed printing system. Ushiwear: Trialed the holistic printing system as a sustainable alternative for printing within the UK industry.
Impact The project deliverables provide the Holistic Future Coloration System for fashion and textiles through the combined the following tangible outputs that are a result of the cross discipline collaboration with Textile Technology and Design : A toolkit for printing with natural pigments - the combined creative and technical research outputs identified appropriate pigments, processes, and creative techniques for a variety of textile substrates for both manufacturers and designers to work with to produce coloured fashion and textiles with sustainable credentials. The toolkit produced by the Royal College of Art researchers communicates supply source and aesthetic potential. Circular narratives for communication - a communication tool for the circular narrative of the holistic future coloration system. This tool can be used by the academic and industry partners to communicate the proposed printing system to various audiences. Prototype Samples - using the pigments prepared by University of Leeds the Royal College of Art developed a series of screen printed textile samples that communicate the colour pallet achievable with the pigments. Rose Danford-Phillips then used these samples to inform the development of a fashion collection.
Start Year 2021
 
Description FFF responsive R&D Call 2 project: Mycelium Eco-Leather 
Organisation Aurelie Fontan Studio
Country United Kingdom 
Sector Private 
PI Contribution . Susan Postlethwaite from the Royal College of Art will be our other academic partner to oversee project delivery and technical outcomes.Dawn Ellams Research Fellow RCA/FFF will support the project.
Collaborator Contribution To deliver this project, we will work with Parik Goswami and Sohel Rana from The Huddersfield Technical Textiles Research Centre who will assist in leading mechanical tests and life-cycle assessments plus quality control, as an ongoing process during the project. Meanwhile, fellow biodesigner Ashley Granter - from Natura Studio in Doncaster - will direct the manufacture of our production line in London - from fabric sterilisation to inoculation and growth/ drying period. The funding allocated will also contribute to set up a hybrid manufacturing/lab facility with necessary machinery and tools.
Impact No outcomes yet
Start Year 2020
 
Description FFF responsive R&D Call 2 project: Mycelium Eco-Leather 
Organisation Burberry Group PLC
Country United Kingdom 
Sector Private 
PI Contribution . Susan Postlethwaite from the Royal College of Art will be our other academic partner to oversee project delivery and technical outcomes.Dawn Ellams Research Fellow RCA/FFF will support the project.
Collaborator Contribution To deliver this project, we will work with Parik Goswami and Sohel Rana from The Huddersfield Technical Textiles Research Centre who will assist in leading mechanical tests and life-cycle assessments plus quality control, as an ongoing process during the project. Meanwhile, fellow biodesigner Ashley Granter - from Natura Studio in Doncaster - will direct the manufacture of our production line in London - from fabric sterilisation to inoculation and growth/ drying period. The funding allocated will also contribute to set up a hybrid manufacturing/lab facility with necessary machinery and tools.
Impact No outcomes yet
Start Year 2020
 
Description FFF responsive R&D Call 2 project: Mycelium Eco-Leather 
Organisation Natura Design Studio
Sector Charity/Non Profit 
PI Contribution . Susan Postlethwaite from the Royal College of Art will be our other academic partner to oversee project delivery and technical outcomes.Dawn Ellams Research Fellow RCA/FFF will support the project.
Collaborator Contribution To deliver this project, we will work with Parik Goswami and Sohel Rana from The Huddersfield Technical Textiles Research Centre who will assist in leading mechanical tests and life-cycle assessments plus quality control, as an ongoing process during the project. Meanwhile, fellow biodesigner Ashley Granter - from Natura Studio in Doncaster - will direct the manufacture of our production line in London - from fabric sterilisation to inoculation and growth/ drying period. The funding allocated will also contribute to set up a hybrid manufacturing/lab facility with necessary machinery and tools.
Impact No outcomes yet
Start Year 2020
 
Description FFF responsive R&D Call 2 project: Mycelium Eco-Leather 
Organisation Open Cell
Country United Kingdom 
Sector Private 
PI Contribution . Susan Postlethwaite from the Royal College of Art will be our other academic partner to oversee project delivery and technical outcomes.Dawn Ellams Research Fellow RCA/FFF will support the project.
Collaborator Contribution To deliver this project, we will work with Parik Goswami and Sohel Rana from The Huddersfield Technical Textiles Research Centre who will assist in leading mechanical tests and life-cycle assessments plus quality control, as an ongoing process during the project. Meanwhile, fellow biodesigner Ashley Granter - from Natura Studio in Doncaster - will direct the manufacture of our production line in London - from fabric sterilisation to inoculation and growth/ drying period. The funding allocated will also contribute to set up a hybrid manufacturing/lab facility with necessary machinery and tools.
Impact No outcomes yet
Start Year 2020
 
Description Future Fashion Factory / InGAME collaboration - challenge launch December 2023 
Organisation Abertay University
Country United Kingdom 
Sector Academic/University 
PI Contribution Future Fashion Factory initiated this activity and will be providing the Sustainable Fashion and Environmental Data expertise. See text below for more detail. The collaborative partners are (1) Abertay University / InGAME CICP (2) The Applied Games Lab - InGAME's CICP demonstrator project which will transition to a spin-out in the New Year (3) games developers who will collaborate with FFF to provide feasibility / prototypes throughout the course of the challenge (4) industrial members of the FFF network, significant fashion and textile supply chain players who will form part of the Dragon's Den like assessment process at Challenge end.
Collaborator Contribution InGAME / The Applied Games Lab is leveraging expertise developed throughout their CICP Demonstrator to apply to this FFF challenge. They bring the expertise to run Challenge workshops and management the technical competition processes.
Impact The Interactive Futures Sustainable Fashion Challenge from Future Fashion Factory - in association with the Applied Games Lab (an InGame spinout application)- is an ambitious competition to harness the potential of game design and game technologies to innovate novel solutions to a global societal challenge: empowering fashion consumers to encourage the fashion and textile industries to develop more robust sustainability practices and credentials. The IFSF Challenge will give participants the funding opportunities and unique insights required to enter a new, exciting and still digitally under-explored sector and market. Combining these insights with their game design and technologist superpowers will empower them to unlock significant new commercial opportunities. The competition is open to gamemakers and media enterprises across the UK. Up to 10 applicants will be selected to participate in the Interactive Futures Sustainable Fashion Lab. These participants will receive £5K to develop concepts over two weeks. After pitching, four teams will be selected and will receive £25K investment to prove their concept in an eight week prototyping phase.
Start Year 2023
 
Description Responsive R&D Call 6: CUSTHOM Ltd "Sustainable biopolymer carrier films for use in heat transfer printing onto smart garments and fashion fabrics" 
Organisation Conductive Transfers
Country United Kingdom 
Sector Private 
PI Contribution CUSTHOM and Conductive Transfers propose to explore alternatives to PET & PU carrier films used in their heat transfer printing of metallic finishes/electronic circuits onto fabrics and other fashion products. Currently the base materials of the carrier films, with or without metallised finishes, are mainly made from paper, synthetic and vinyl polymers which are made from fossil fuels. The estimated market size of synthetic heat transfer printing films made from polyurethane, PVC and polyester is US$ 2.3 billion in 2022*. Polyester films have good thermal and thermal stability properties, thus making them a better candidate for heat transfer carrier films requiring high temperature (up to 1800C) and high-pressure conditions (2-8MPa). This process of finish/transfer printing is used across a breadth of apparel sectors, currently creating an abundant non-recyclable waste stream. This project intends to develop a suitable fully sustainable cellulose acetate as an alternative to the PET film, which if successful, would have the capacity to remove tonnes of virgin PET (as well as PU) currently produced as a by-product of hot foil stamping in the textiles industry. This does not account for paper-based printing, cosmetics or aviation for which there are wider application opportunities.
Collaborator Contribution Both Conductive Transfers (CT) and CUSTHOM DESIGN LTD (CUSTHOM) will provide inkind contributions to support the projetcs, they have provided professional knowledge of the performance requirements of the transfer prointing films used in their production process, consumables, and production trials of the CA films prototyped in this project. they also provide the pathway of the commercialisation of the new products.
Impact An engineered Cellulose Acetate film produced from natural resources and waste textile fabrics, having met the performance requirement of transfer printing process, will be formulated in this project to replace the existing PET films for a more environmentally friendly transfer printing films used in producing printed textile products.
Start Year 2022
 
Description Virtual Shade Approval 
Organisation Abraham Moon & Sons
Country United Kingdom 
Sector Private 
PI Contribution We are developing new software and hardware to enable the company to make virtual approvals of colour from their suppliers. Currently suppliers have to send physical samples from their remote location (e.g. Indonesia) to Yorkshire. This is wasteful. Substantial savings could be made if images of the yarn samples could be taken and viewed remotely. However, there are serious challenges to doing this because of the effect of lighting, camera technology and display technology.
Collaborator Contribution Abraham Moon are providing samples and expertise to assist with the development project.
Impact The project is developing new hardware and software that can enable the remote viewing of samples.
Start Year 2021
 
Description WRAP Textiles 2030 
Organisation Waste and Resources Action Programme
Country United Kingdom 
Sector Charity/Non Profit 
PI Contribution Provide techncial and commercial insights to support the development of key aspects of the Textiles 2030 initiative. Provide research support for durability assessment Sit on the Textiles 2030 advisory board
Collaborator Contribution Provide funding to support project research Play an active role in facilitating engagement with Textiles 2030 membership. Support dissemination of outputs
Impact Outputs under development
Start Year 2020
 
Title A Deep Learning Algorithm for Classifying the Fabrics based on their Characterized Stick-Slip Events During Fabric-to-Fabric Dynamic Friction Process 
Description Long-short-term memory (LSTM) is an artificial neural network having the capacity of learning sequences of time-series data are used in varieties of classification and time-series prediction problems. A prediction scenario is modelled and implemented using sequence-to-sequence topology where the input and output dynamic friction sequences are mapped sequentially to predict the following stick-slip events. The elements of the time-series dynamic friction sequence are dependent on each other, where a more advanced neural network model equipped with memory units are needed to constitute the internal relationship between the elements of such time-series data. 
Type Of Technology Software 
Year Produced 2023 
Impact The algorithm s developed for classifying different fabrics friction behavior based on their predicted stick-slip events during the fabric-to fabric friction process. Once characterizing the features of fabrics we can delve deeper into the rendering and simulating the interactive handle behavior of those fabrics using immersive technologies. 
 
Title A Deep Learning Software for Predicting the Ranking of Fabrics Based on their Objective Aesthetical Characteristics Associated with their Subjective Assessments in Different Evaluation Settings 
Description The construction of the ranking model connects the manufacturers, customers, and designers' aesthetical tactile requirements of garments with the objective fabric tactile properties measured by LUFHES; where the prediction of the scoring of different aesthetical criteria of an arbitrary group of fabrics are tailored to the subjects' tactile needs. 
Type Of Technology Software 
Year Produced 2022 
Impact The software is designed for assisting the manufacturers to adjust the physical parameters of fabrics according to the customers' tactile needs. The application of the software is expandable from research side and is also accessible in student projects for subjective data collection and analytical purposes. 
 
Title A Machine Learning Software to Predict Finished Fabric Tactile Properties for WTJohnson 
Description A predictive Software was designed to help the business at WTJohnson to determine the finishing processes for delivering specific fabric tactile characteristic outcomes. The Software is accompanied by an expanding repository of objective tactile properties and inbuilt automated feature generating modules. The data repository is directly linked with the Software for performing new trainings and predictions. The data were collected using Leeds University Fabric Handle Evaluation System (LUFHES) as a part of the project. The predictive model employs machine learning algorithms for performing required tasks, assisting the finishing procedures at WT Johnson. 
Type Of Technology Software 
Year Produced 2021 
Impact The Software offers the business with domain specific solutions to deal with often encountering problems regarding the applied finishing techniques and required tactile properties outcomes. WTJohnson is a well known service provider for important markets and garment producers. The aesthetics of the tactile properties of produced fabrics have always been in the focus of WTJohnson and other linked businesses. In a traditional paradigm, the required tactile characteristics of final fabrics are determined by scrutinized manual finishing process selection. The designed digital tool at the University of Leeds is capable to predict the effect of various finishing processes and help the business to finetune the required processes to deliver the expected tactile outcomes. The predictive nature of the provided AI model allows the company to save time and resources and potentially cut on trials and errors by predetermining the applied finishing techniques effects. 
URL http://www.wtjohnson.co.uk/
 
Title A Novel System for Characterizing the Stick-Slip Events in Fabric-to-Fabric Friction Process 
Description Stick-slip process are frequently observed in various fabric dynamic friction processes employed in both subjective and objective evaluation of fabric surface tactile properties. It is a dynamic friction process in which the friction force and speed vary abruptly within a short period of time to show phases of gripping and sliding patterns happening within a variety of spatiotemporal intervals, During stick-slip friction process, fabrics show a greater deal of interaction in regular/irregular intervals or sometimes at the beginning of the friction process, could be featured by its associated frequency and duration of the stick/slip events. A novel strategy to extract fabric stick-slip features through time-frequency spectrum analysis, is proposed and applied in the algorithmic tool. The fabric stick-slip properties were characterised by using the Hjorth parameters which were previously employed for tactile signal processing in robotic applications. 
Type Of Technology Software 
Year Produced 2021 
Impact The established system obtains unique fabric surface encodings associated with the stick-slip events for characterizing fabric surface properties. Two papers are prepared for submission to journals based on the analysis of fabrics using the algorithmic tool: Article 1: Characterisation of Stick-Slip Features in Fabric-to-Fabric Dynamic Friction Process Part I: Short-time Fast Fourier Transform (STFFT) and Hjorth Parameters (Sahar Arshi, Ningtao Mao) : In this article various aspects of the features of fabric stick-slip events in the fabric-to-fabric self-friction dynamic process were analysed, in relation to fabric surface finishing and textural characteristics, by employing a series of different strategies. Article 2: Surface Texture Characteristics of Woven Fabrics Obtained from Frequency Spectrum Analysis of Fabric-to-Fabric Dynamic Friction Properties (Yimeng Wang, Sahar Arshi, Ningtao Mao) 
 
Title A System Framework for Simulating Different Modes of Fabric Handle Based on Human Hand Parameters Compatible with Ultrahaptics Technology 
Description The human hand contact with various fabric surfaces and textures through different modes of touch, namely, sliding, grasping, routing, tapping, and pressing. A realistic interaction with fabrics in virtual spaces should take into account the dynamics of fabric handle during the evaluation process. This accounts to sending the appropriate force feedback to the interacting hand using Ultrahaptics emitters. Rooted in robotics technologies, a system framework is obtained for simulating the various modes of touch using hand parameters. The designed system is compatible with Ultrahaptics technology. 
Type Of Technology Software 
Year Produced 2022 
Impact Emitting the proportional force feedback to the interacting hand is a crucial stage in developing realistic virtual haptic experiences. While a sliding hand on a fabric surface may involve the majority section of the palm of the hand, tapping on a fabric surface may inhibit brief moments of force-feedback to part of the hand. The speed of the hand movement, the proximity of hand elements determine the mode of fabric handle where the fabric comes into contact with the hand. 
 
Title AI "Gold Hand": an AI-based Intelligent Tool to Predict Personal Preference of Touch Feel to Fabric Tactile Qualities for Specific User Groups 
Description In this project, we developed a group of Machine Learning models using LUFHES fabric tactile indices and extracted surface textual properties, after trained by a specific "Golden Hand", to mimic their decision-making process in determining their fabrics' touch feel preference to the fabrics. "Golden Hand" are referred to the experienced, and skilled designers, buyers and technologists, who carry out subjective evaluation on the fabric's aesthetical properties in order to alter the fabrics design and finishing process to target consumers' needs. This expertise is highly personal, experience-dependent, non-transferrable and unable to be elaborated. 
Type Of Technology Software 
Year Produced 2024 
Impact Prediction of consumers' touch feel preference to specific fabric products could help customised fashion product design and manufacture and help cut unnecessary stock wastes for fashion sustainability. 
 
Title An Algorithmic tool for Characterizing the Mechanical Properties of Fabrics using Physical Modelling 
Description The data are gathered from a large number of fabrics using LUFHES and by mechanically deforming the fabrics during the compression and shearing experiments. The deformations are simulated using the spring-damper models, where the relevant parameters are extracted for each fabric. 
Type Of Technology Software 
Year Produced 2022 
Impact The purpose of the physical simulation is to model the fabric deformations for their reproduction using virtual reality technologies. 
 
Title An online colour discrimination test 
Description An online tool has been developed that enables user to check their colour vision. Traditionally this is done with a physical test such as the Munsell 100-hue test. Use of this physical test is expensive since it often involves travel. The online test allows employees to check the level of their colour discrimination from their own desktop computer. High levels of colour discrimination are required by many manufacturers for employees who are responsible for making visual assessments of produced goods. 
Type Of Technology Software 
Year Produced 2023 
Impact The software is being evaluated by Verivide Ltd who wish to market this product to manufacturing companies in the UK. 
URL https://stephenwestland.co.uk/chrominium/
 
Title Sentire - fabric evaluation system 
Description Developed by Prof. Mao, the fabric evaluation system consisted of two parts - the automated measuring device itself, with a casing suitable for industrial settings based on commercially available materials, and software to control the system and algorithm for data processing. 
Type Of Technology New/Improved Technique/Technology 
Year Produced 2020 
Impact Working with Prof. Mao, Roaches International is about to begin evaluating the pre-production prototype, completing the initial performance tests and planning the commercialization process. 
URL https://futurefashionfactory.org/roaches-international-takes-fabric-evaluation-commercial/
 
Title Software for Improved K-means Clustering 
Description The software was developed with AkzoNobel and performs a machine-learning algorithm that ensures that the resultant clusters are as different as possible. This addresses the problem with conventional k-means clustering where the centroids or clusters selected are too similar to each other. When applied to colour images to extract key colours automatically, the result of this new algorithm is a colour palette that is more representative of the image; it ensures that colours that may be visually salient but represented in the image by relatively few pixels will still appear in the extracted colour palette. 
Type Of Technology Software 
Year Produced 2022 
Impact The software has been embedded in the AkzoNobel website tool for the Dulux paint brand called ColourPlay. 
URL https://www.dulux.co.uk/en/colour-inspiration/colour-play#/colourplay/
 
Title Three-layer Water Repellent, Breathable Textile Evaluation 
Description Worked with Amphibio to refine the fibre and explore process to improve its performance, ensuring the new product could match the same high quality standards as existing materials. This in turn laid the groundwork for a new prototype of the company's three-layer Waterproof, Breathable Textiles (WBT) Amphitex. Brands can now use the prototype to test and trial Amphitex for their own collections. 
Type Of Technology New Material/Compound 
Year Produced 2022 
Impact Amphibio is bringing the new recyclable WBT to market. 
URL https://www.amphico.uk/
 
Title • Extended Algorithmic Tool for Characterizing the Stick-Slip Events in Fabric-to-Fabric Dynamic Friction Process for Achieving Unique Fabric Surface Encodings 
Description Fabric dynamic friction process never repeats themselves for identical fabrics. The characteristics of stick-slip events in the dynamic friction process provide a fabric's unique surface encoding. In this study, the fabric surface characteristics are generated in the fabric-to-fabric self-friction process, A novel strategy to extract fabric stick-slip features through time-frequency spectrum analysis is proposed. The fabric stick-slip properties were characterized by using the Hjorth parameters which were previously employed for tactile signal processing. The characteristics of stick-slip properties were obtained from the statistical analysis of Hjorth parameters and later analyzed for their entropy, fractal dimension, self-similarity and complex nature of the fabric-fabric friction. 
Type Of Technology Software 
Year Produced 2023 
Impact Important features are identified through machine learning algorithms and are used to represent the surface textures of various types of weaving constructions, the identified features could be used in classifying woven fabrics and in engineering and customized design of the surface of fabrics having desired aesthetic and tactile properties. Three of the derived paper from the above study are mentioned below: Submitted Paper: An Approach for the Characterisation of Surface Texture-related Stick-Slip Features in Fabric-to-Fabric Dynamic Friction Process, Part I: Short-Time Fourier Transform (STFT) and Hjorth Parameters Draft 1: Characterization of Stick-Slip Features in Fabric-to-Fabric Dynamic Friction Process Part II: Signal Decomposition and Self-similarity Draft 2: Characterization of Stick-Slip Features in Fabric-to-Fabric Dynamic Friction Process Part III: Feature Importance and Machine Learning Tools 
 
Company Name Colour Intelligence Ltd 
Description Colour Intelligence offers consultancy and research services in all areas of colour, including industrial colour control, colour communication, and colour measurement. They use their expertise in colour science to provide practical and effective solutions to real-world problems. 
Year Established 2021 
Impact Colour Intelligence has been founded by Prof. Stephen Westland and Dr Kaida Xiao from the University of Leeds. Steve is the Core Research Theme leader for AI / Data-Driven Design within FFF and Kaida has worked on a number of FFF Responsive R&D projects to date. The company is loosely based upon some works that have arisen from FFF CRTs.
Website https://colourintelligence.co.uk/
 
Company Name DyeRecycle 
Description DyeRecycle has developed a process for removing dye from old fabrics to be used on new material. 
Year Established 2022 
Impact DyeRecycle Ltd was formed as a consequence of the FFF Investment Committee choosing to award them funding in the FFF Responsive R&D Call 5 process. FFF introduced the company to one of our larger established manufacturing members (Camira) and they are currently undertaking some research exploring ways to extract & reuse dyes from textile waste.
Website https://www.dyerecycle.com/
 
Company Name Osmose Studio 
Description Osmose Studio designs and sells a range of clothes and homeware that are made from sustainable materials including mycelium, hemp, and recycled silk and cotton, as well as selling mycelium as a material. 
Year Established 2020 
Impact Aurelie Fontan Studio Ltd has attracted funding: FFF Call 2 PoC award (value £37,464) and InnovateUK SMART award (value £53,946). The IUK application was supported by FFF RCA-based project staff. LONDON MAYOR ENTREPRENEUR AWARD Winner 2020 MA SCHOLARSHIP 2020 I British Fashion Council PRIX DE LA VOCATION I Winner I Fondation pour la Vocation Members of the Bridgerton cast modelled gowns,Phoebe Dynevor and Adjoa Andoh wearing Aurélie Fontan https://www.vogue.co.uk/fashion/article/bridgerton-bfc
Website https://www.osmosestudio.co.uk/
 
Company Name RoundRack 
Description RoundRack operates an online supply chain management platform which allows users to search for and request sustainable materials for production. 
Year Established 2021 
Impact The Future Fashion Factory Programme worked with this company on a submission to the FFF Call 5 competition. During the development process the company formed so as to be eligible for consideration for funding. Though not funded through the Call 5 process their application was well received by the FFF Investment Committee and a number of useful introductions were made across the FFF network. It is the intention to continue to support this company where possible in other ways.
Website https://www.roundrack.co/
 
Company Name SAGES 
Description SAGES produces a range of sustainable dyes made from food waste. 
Year Established 2022 
Impact The University of Leeds has worked with SAGES since they approached FFF as part of the Responsive R&D Call 5 process. Since making an academic introduction SAGES have been supported through other funding applications and are currently working with UoL on a new project. The company registered as they were applying to FFF funding call.
Website https://www.sageslondon.com/
 
Company Name Salt Weave Studio Ltd 
Description Salt Weave Studio is a Yorkshire-based textile company that produces high-quality, sustainable products including throws and scarfs made from 100% biodegradable merino Lambswool. They champion local craftsmanship and are committed to using high quality materials and sustainable practices. 
Year Established 2020 
Impact https://saltsmillshop.co.uk/products/titus-throw-by-rebecca-ough-salt-weave-studio-100-merino-wool-200-x-155cm "Over the last year myself and Suzy Shepherd from Yorkshire Textiles have been working on an exciting new project for CEG's Temple development in the Holbeck area of Leeds. We have been tasked with creating a 'heritage weave' which will be used across the Temple development to highlight its textile legacy. Jon Howe has been documenting the past, present and future of the Temple regeneration area in Leeds on his blog, A Leeds Revolution, it's such a great read and he dives into the interesting history of the Egyptian style Temple Works mill."
Website https://www.saltweavestudio.co.uk/
 
Company Name Digitoile Ltd 
Description  
Year Established 2021 
Impact This company was formed during the FFF Call 4 process. The company applied for Call 4 funding and has been shortlisted at the time of this entry.
 
Company Name Pattern Project 
Description  
Year Established 2019 
Impact Company start up, all income derived will be tied to the ready-to-sew idea.
 
Company Name Donna Marie Harland Ltd 
Description  
Year Established 2021 
Impact The company first contacted the Future Fashion Factory Programme in 2019 seeking support with materials sourcing, sample prototyping, and local manufacturing. They are now an established luxury underwear supplier with a hyper local, Yorkshire-based, supply chain. Further details in a case study published through the FFF website.
 
Company Name Origin Innovation Ltd 
Description  
Year Established 2020 
Impact None as yet.
 
Description "Approaches to zero carbon fashion" at the Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport, 19 Oct 2021. 
Form Of Engagement Activity A talk or presentation
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach International
Primary Audience Industry/Business
Results and Impact i had a mixed audience of about 15 from industry and postgraduate students from logistics and supply chain industry. The reason for being invited to present was to increase interest and understaniding of the issues around circular economy for the fashion industry and links to logistics.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2021
URL https://ciltuk.org.uk/Events/EventDetails.aspx?dateid=4663
 
Description "Style:Restyle" workshop for Be Curious festival October 2020 
Form Of Engagement Activity Engagement focused website, blog or social media channel
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach National
Primary Audience Public/other audiences
Results and Impact Be Curious was an event hosted and designed by University of Leeds to connect the public with research at the University. for my participation in the on-line version of this, i designed sewing repair videos, digital jigsaws and tweets. To engage public with valuing their clothing and textiles and not to throw out into the black bin.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2020
URL https://universityofleeds.padlet.org/BeCurious/2020
 
Description "Style:Restyle" workshop for Be Curious festival October 2020 
Form Of Engagement Activity Engagement focused website, blog or social media channel
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach National
Primary Audience Public/other audiences
Results and Impact Be Curious was an event hosted and designed by University of Leeds to connect the public with research at the University. for my participation in the on-line version of this, i designed sewing repair videos, digital jigsaws and tweets. To engage public with valuing their clothing and textiles and not to throw out into the black bin.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2020
URL https://universityofleeds.padlet.org/BeCurious/2020
 
Description 'Advanced Hierachical Composites - Are Potential Materials for Defense Applications?' in 2nd World Conference on Advanced Materials for Defense, 6-8th July, 2020 (Online). 
Form Of Engagement Activity A talk or presentation
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach International
Primary Audience Other audiences
Results and Impact This talk gave an overview of hierarchical composites and discusses their application potential in advanced technical sectors including defense. The concept of hierarchical composites, their production methods and properties have been discussed.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2020
URL https://conference.auxdefense.pt/
 
Description 'Colour Quality of Lighting' LITAC - Life in Colour Seminar (2nd November 2023) 
Form Of Engagement Activity Participation in an activity, workshop or similar
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach International
Primary Audience Industry/Business
Results and Impact As the Fashion Pillar of the Leeds Institute of Textiles and Colour, Future Fashion Factory collaboratively organised the relaunch of the LITAC 'Life in Colour' Seminar series, promoting the event to members of the Future Fashion Factory network. The first of these seminars was held digitally, to facilitate an international scope as we worked collaboratively with Dr Qiang Liu from Wuhan University, China on a session called 'Colour Quality of Lighting.' The session focused on how lighting technology and colour preference are now at the forefront of colour-focused research and have ramifications on consumers and businesses (many of which would sit in the FFF supply chain) alike.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2023
URL https://forms.office.com/Pages/ResponsePage.aspx?id=qO3qvR3IzkWGPlIypTW3y0RYOvFJJbtCpzAzRmnwukhUNzNX...
 
Description 'FFF Fridays'. Series of FFF organised research-focused webinars/panel discussions. 
Form Of Engagement Activity A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach International
Primary Audience Industry/Business
Results and Impact 3 consecutive Friday lunchtimes, 1st - 15th October 2021. 150 attendees.
A series of three lunchtime webinars in which FFF members presented their ongoing innovation around the themes of colour, materials innovation, and circular systems. Short presentations by each member were followed with a Q&A session as an opportunity for members to learn more about the R&D taking place across the community.
As well as raising the profile of the FFF programme in the fashion and textile industry, this series attracted new FFF members and facilitated engagement and interaction among the FFF network. Feedback from attendees and speakers alike was universally positive.
https://youtu.be/BoudIXe63nM = Colour, 1st October 2021
https://youtu.be/YZgq9jelTy0 = Materials Innovation, 8th October 2021
https://youtu.be/-anZqAO8-OE = Circular Systems, 15th October 2021
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2021
URL https://youtu.be/-anZqAO8-OE
 
Description 'Impacts of Brexit and COVID-19 on the UK Fashion & Textiles Technology Ecosystem' at Future Fashion Factory showcase (30th June 2023) 
Form Of Engagement Activity Participation in an activity, workshop or similar
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach National
Primary Audience Other audiences
Results and Impact A state-of-play analysis to highlight many of the on-going issues faced by the UK fashion and textile industry, particularly those SMEs and micro businesses who make up over 80% of the industry. However, the report also highlights the resilience and adaptability of UK fashion and textile companies when faced with challenges such as Brexit and COVID-19.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2023
URL https://futurefashionfactory.org/event/showcase2023/#:~:text=30%20June%2C%202023%20%40%209%3A00%20am...
 
Description 'The Spectacular Showcase of Textile Innovation' at the University of Huddersfield with WOVEN Textiles Festival, June 14th & 15th 2019 
Form Of Engagement Activity Participation in an activity, workshop or similar
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach Regional
Primary Audience Public/other audiences
Results and Impact The Spectacular Showcase of Textile Innovation at the University of Huddersfield and the Textile Centre of Excellence shone a spotlight on the incredible scientific and creative innovation taking place in the textile industry today. Visitors came to find out how scientists, businesses and artists are continually exploring how to make the industry more innovative and environmentally sustainable.

On Friday the focus was on how this innovation has created a thriving industry and activities highlighted the diverse careers that the textile industry now offers. As well as workshops and talks at the Technical Textiles department at the University led by FFF member Dr Andrew Hewitt, there were talks from Alan Cannon Jones, former Saville Row tailor, with 50 years of experience in the fashion industry and as a teacher at the London College of Fashion, and from FFF co-I Parik Goswami, Professor in Technical Textiles on how scientific developments in textiles are being applied in areas far beyond clothing.

On Saturday the Spectacular Showcase hosted the culmination of the Future Fashion Challenge with a fashion show created by around 150 young people from schools from across the district. Also on offer on both days were free workshops on up-cycling and new technological innovations in textiles and their potential societal and business impacts, led by FFF member Dr Andrew Hewitt.

As a result of the event, the vast majority of respondents who responded to the official survey reported the event gave them a greater understanding of how relevant the textile industry was, of the potential for employment in the textile industry, and of career progression in the textile industry. (Woven 2019 Evaluation Report). Specific on-site feedback showed the event gave new understanding of textile innovation and attendees were "amazed" at the scope and possibilities of the programme of textile research being conducted in the UK.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2019
URL https://woveninkirklees.co.uk/events/spectacular-showcase-of-textile-innovation/
 
Description 1/2 day digital workshop, TCoE. 6th March 2020. 29 attendees. 
Form Of Engagement Activity A talk or presentation
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach Regional
Primary Audience Industry/Business
Results and Impact A half day digital workshop, part of one of 4 new courses developed by the TCoE for the FFF Programme. This course was developed to address gaps in understanding of FFF industry network members that had been identified by benchmarking activity carried out during 2019. Industry 4.0 awareness day, advertised on TCoE website.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2020
URL https://futurefashionfactory.org/skills/
 
Description 2019 Conference Paper: Fashion Thinking. Futurescan 4: Valuing Practice. January. University of Bolton, UK. 
Form Of Engagement Activity A talk or presentation
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach International
Primary Audience Postgraduate students
Results and Impact Delivery of Fashion Thinking position paper.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2019
URL http://www.ftc-online.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/F4_Programme.pdf
 
Description 2020 26th - 30th. January Research Paper Discourse: Debating the Future of Fashion Design. Fashion Colloquium. Sub-theme: Disruption & Innovation. ARCH College of Design & Business, Jaipur, India 
Form Of Engagement Activity A talk or presentation
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach International
Primary Audience Professional Practitioners
Results and Impact Investigation: The paper takes as its starting point the development of particular pedagogic approaches initiated in the Fashion Programme at the RCA and the development of the tool kit by Chelsea Franklin, RCA Fashion alum. The development of a new pedagogic strategy and restructuring of the delivery of the first year, the subsequent student work and the design of the tool kit, the iterative testing of the tool, its efficacy and value and future iterations are all discussed. A series of 'platforms' designed to encourage engagement with new perspectives were introduced in the Fashion Programme at the Royal College of Art in 2016. The platforms are taught by industry professionals, researchers and designers during students' first year at the RCA. Students can choose either of the following subjects specifications: Bio Design, Sports, Digital or Future Systems. These groups are taught in parallel with an understanding that there are shared rationales, areas of interest and synergies, and that collaborations across these areas should happen and is encouraged.This paper discusses initial findings from the work carried out at ISDAR and subsequent workshops with first- and second-year students at RCA.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2020
URL https://www.archedu.org/fashion-colloquiumjaipur.html
 
Description 2nd Functional Textiles & Clothing Conference. Keynote address: Textile Functionalisation - A Tool For Sustainable Topical Innovations 
Form Of Engagement Activity A talk or presentation
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach International
Primary Audience Professional Practitioners
Results and Impact FTC is a biannual international conference that provides a platform for leading academic scientists, researchers, designers and entrepreneurs to have in-depth exchanges on latest scientific developments, cutting edge technologies, innovations, trends, concerns, challenges and opportunities in the field of Functional Textiles and Clothing.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2020
 
Description 3rd International Conference on Functional Textiles and Clothing (10-12th February 2023) 
Form Of Engagement Activity A talk or presentation
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach International
Primary Audience Professional Practitioners
Results and Impact Functional Textiles Conference (FTC) provides a platform for leading scientists, researchers, designers and entrepreneurs to have in-depth exchanges on latest scientific developments, cutting edge technologies, innovations, trends, concerns, challenges and opportunities in the field of Textiles and Clothing. This edition of FTC'23 will be conducted in physical mode. This was an international professional conference at which I was a Keynote speaker, and co-chair of the International Scientific Committee. The actual attendance was 101-500 but greater reach is obtained via online presence and proceedings.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2023
URL https://ftcconference.in/
 
Description 6th International Skin Integrity and Infection Prevention Conference: Innovations in Wound Management 
Form Of Engagement Activity A talk or presentation
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach National
Primary Audience Professional Practitioners
Results and Impact Talk title: "Technical textiles for wound management and infection prevention". The University of Huddersfield has gained a considerable reputation as a centre for innovation and change in the field of wound infection and care and the multi-disciplinary nature of the subject was never more evident than at the latest conference on the subject held at the University this month. The University's Institute of Skin Integrity and Infection Prevention held its sixth annual conference, which was again sponsored by the leading industry magazine, the Journal of Wound Care.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2019
 
Description A talk at a local society 
Form Of Engagement Activity A talk or presentation
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach Local
Primary Audience Public/other audiences
Results and Impact I gave an invited talk (16 Feb 2022) at the Leeds Philosophical and Literacy Society.

Westland S., 2022. Does Colour Exist?, Leeds Philosophical and Literacy Society, Leeds (virtual). [invited talk]
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2022
URL https://www.leedsphilandlit.org.uk/shop/does-colour-exist/
 
Description A visit to the FFF programme at the University of Leeds from UKRI Board members (14th March 2023) 
Form Of Engagement Activity Participation in an open day or visit at my research institution
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach National
Primary Audience Other audiences
Results and Impact We provided a guided tour of our research facilities, highlighting the impacts of FFF innovation activity in situ. Examples of tour stops included the Nonwovens research lab (Dr. Muhammad Tausif), the Testing Lab (Prof. Ningtao Mao), the Colour Lab (Prof. Stephen Westland), and the 3D Weaving Lab (Dr. Lindsey Taylor); each of these academics has been involved with multiple FFF Responsive R&D projects. Industry leaders from the FFF network were also present, and as part of the visit, we hosted a networking lunch with industry and the UKRI delegates - attendees included Bill Macbeth, Managing Director of the Textile Centre of Excellence, Michael Doughty, Co-Founder of Hylo Athletics Ltd, and Adam Mansell, CEO UKFT. The day culminated in an evening network reception, which saw speeches from the University of Leeds' Vice Chancellor, Professor Simone Buitendijk, and from the Chair of UKRI, Sir Andrew Mackenzie - we were pleased to receive positive feedback from the UKRI Board during the visit.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2023
 
Description AMRC Sustainability Event - Sustainability as Industry 5.0. 12th February 2020. ~20 attendees. 
Form Of Engagement Activity A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach Regional
Primary Audience Industry/Business
Results and Impact Bill MacBeth, FFF CRT lead for Education & Skills presented to this event, introducing the FFF Programme and key activities / Core Research Themes. The focus for Bill's talk was the FFF CRT of sustainability / circular economy. The event was both an opportunity to disseminate FF activities & encourage new membership but also to learn from best practice in other sectors.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2020
URL https://www.amrc.co.uk/events/amrc-forum-sustainability-the-5th-industrial-revolution
 
Description Advances in Technical Textile Research - invited talk at the Panipat Institute of Engineering & Technology, Haryana, India 
Form Of Engagement Activity A talk or presentation
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach International
Primary Audience Undergraduate students
Results and Impact Presented an overview of the research and development projects and their applications at the University of Huddersfield including a focus on the Future Fashion Factory programme and the relevance to the UK textile industry. Generated interest in the project, the UK textile industry and the areas of research.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2018
 
Description All Things Considered: National Public Radio (USA) 
Form Of Engagement Activity A press release, press conference or response to a media enquiry/interview
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach International
Primary Audience Media (as a channel to the public)
Results and Impact Provide an interview for National Public Radio exploring the function of fashion in modern culture and the role of sustainability in changing the industry
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2019
URL https://www.npr.org/2019/07/27/745418569/can-fast-fashion-and-sustainability-be-stitched-together
 
Description Alumni Visit 
Form Of Engagement Activity A talk or presentation
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach National
Primary Audience Industry/Business
Results and Impact Formal meeting with Patrick Grant (industrialist and media commentator for fashion) to discuss and inform him on the latest issues facing the fashion industry and how Leeds and FFF are developing new solutions and business models.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2018
 
Description An invited presentation --Barriers of rendering touch feel of fabrics in immersive environment 
Form Of Engagement Activity A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach National
Primary Audience Professional Practitioners
Results and Impact LIDA Immersive Technologies Workshop 2021, University of Leeds
The workshop is for showcasing the latest development and research in data-driven modelling and immersive technology. Around 70 academics, researchers and postgraduate students attended the event, and have stimulated more intersts and collaboration in immersive technologies.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2021
 
Description An invited presentation in Japan- Characterisation of Fabric Tactile Properties of Nonwoven Topsheets 
Form Of Engagement Activity A talk or presentation
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach International
Primary Audience Professional Practitioners
Results and Impact this is a reknown international symposium organized by The Textile Machinery Society of Japan for its 50 years anniversary.The main aim is to bring together researchers in the field of textiles from academia and industry to rejuvenate the fading emphasis for the importance of textile education in the Japanese Education System. There are over 200 participants in the conference
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2021
URL https://tmsj.or.jp/trs_e/48th-trs-2021/
 
Description An invited talk in Iran 
Form Of Engagement Activity A talk or presentation
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach International
Primary Audience Professional Practitioners
Results and Impact I gave a keynote (invited) presentation (13 Oct 2021) at the annual conference of the Institute for Color Science and Technology in Iran.

Westland S. and Vazirian M., 2021. Methods for Accurate Display of Colour on Displays , Institute for Color Science and Technology Conference, Tehran (virtual). [keynote]
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2021
URL https://icrc.ac.ir/en
 
Description Apparel and General Merchandising Public Private Protocol Meeting, NEXT retail Ltd., Leicester 
Form Of Engagement Activity Participation in an activity, workshop or similar
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach National
Primary Audience Industry/Business
Results and Impact Meeting to discuss UK manufacturing practices in the fashion and textile industry, involving the UK's major retail brands, including fast fashion and online retail brands.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2019
 
Description Ask the Manufacturer: Q&A. FFF organised webinar/workshop event. 
Form Of Engagement Activity A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach National
Primary Audience Industry/Business
Results and Impact Thursday 9th December 2021. 31 attendees.
Representatives of four manufacturers in the FFF network (AW Hainsworth, Laxtons, KnitLab North and MAES London) introduced their businesses and answered questions from fashion designers and students about finding and working with UK suppliers.
This event was planned in response to demand from both designers and manufacturers in the FFF network who had noted a skills and knowledge gap in collaboration across the industry. Positive feedback from both attendees and speakers reported that this need was being met. A follow-up event is planned for March 2022 in which core partner Burberry will discuss their UK manufacturing, inspired by the success of Ask the Manufacturer.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2021
URL https://youtu.be/XZ5qZD5bkCI
 
Description Association of Fashion and Textile Courses Awards 
Form Of Engagement Activity A talk or presentation
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach Regional
Primary Audience Professional Practitioners
Results and Impact Presentation exploring the changing dynamics of the fashion industry with an emphasis on how designers and retailers have to incorporate global challenges into their work.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2019
 
Description BBC Culture Article 
Form Of Engagement Activity A press release, press conference or response to a media enquiry/interview
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach International
Primary Audience Public/other audiences
Results and Impact Contributed to a feature detailing the 'Rise of the No-Wash Movement.'
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2023
URL https://www.bbc.com/culture/article/20230529-the-people-who-dont-wash-their-clothes
 
Description BBC In Business 
Form Of Engagement Activity A press release, press conference or response to a media enquiry/interview
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach International
Primary Audience Public/other audiences
Results and Impact Radio interviewed used for the BBC radio programme in Business discussing the changes in the industry and the future opportunities for a greener approach.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2019
 
Description BBC Podcast 
Form Of Engagement Activity A broadcast e.g. TV/radio/film/podcast (other than news/press)
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach International
Primary Audience Media (as a channel to the public)
Results and Impact Contributed to a podcast for the BBC covering the complexities of the fashion industry, the role of fashion in modern culture and the growing influence of sustainability on the industry.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2019
 
Description BBC Radio 4 Interview 
Form Of Engagement Activity A press release, press conference or response to a media enquiry/interview
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach International
Primary Audience Public/other audiences
Results and Impact In follow-up to the success of the written feature, a radio segment was offered to further discuss no-wash movement.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2023
 
Description BBC Radio 4 You & Yours Interview 
Form Of Engagement Activity A press release, press conference or response to a media enquiry/interview
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach International
Primary Audience Media (as a channel to the public)
Results and Impact Dedicated one hour episode interview with BBC Radio 4 You and Yours to discuss the relationship between garment durability and price
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2023
URL https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/m001pf4t
 
Description BBC Radio 4 You and Yours Interview 
Form Of Engagement Activity A press release, press conference or response to a media enquiry/interview
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach International
Primary Audience Media (as a channel to the public)
Results and Impact Short interview with BBC radio 4 You and Yours to discuss results of the Primark durability/proce research
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2023
URL https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/m001p1l6
 
Description BBC TV Programme "Inside Out" 
Form Of Engagement Activity A broadcast e.g. TV/radio/film/podcast (other than news/press)
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach National
Primary Audience Media (as a channel to the public)
Results and Impact Interviewed regarding the four inns tragedy, a competitive hike in 1964 that resulted in the deaths of 3 scouts.
The interview focussed on the work of Dr Lewis Griffith Cresswell Evans Pugh in determining that the clothes worn had contributed to the deaths, and the changes in foul weather clothing that took place in the years after the tragedy.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2019
 
Description BBC TV Programme "Inside the Factory" 
Form Of Engagement Activity A broadcast e.g. TV/radio/film/podcast (other than news/press)
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach National
Primary Audience Media (as a channel to the public)
Results and Impact Contributed to a BBC TV programme about the manufacture of water jackets. Discused the theory behind waterproof/ breathable fabrics. Demonstrated the testing of garments/ fabrics and examined textile membranes under an SEM.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2019
URL http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m0007f0f
 
Description BEYOND Conference (30th November - 3rd December 2020, 09:00-17:00) 
Form Of Engagement Activity Participation in an activity, workshop or similar
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach International
Primary Audience Professional Practitioners
Results and Impact Industry and academic partners presented on the theme of data-driven design at BEYOND Conference 2020. Chaired by Prof Stephen Westland (University of Leeds), the panel featured Peihua Lai (University of Leeds) and industry members Virtalis, Twelve Oaks Software, BetaJester and Numerion Software.

BEYOND is a unique, annual gathering of current and future innovators focused on Research and Development across the Creative Industries. Thinkers, makers, investors and researchers across the creative industries come together to explore the relationship between creative research and business innovation.
For 2020, BEYOND becomes a virtual conference, offering its global community a flexible programme of live and catch-up sessions.
Future Fashion Factory members will share how AI, data and visualisation are impacting the fashion industry in our dedicated session on 3 December. Speakers will include:
Paul Jervis, 12 Oaks Software
Adam Boyne, BetaJester
Mike King, Numerion Software
Daniel Norbury, Virtalis
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2020
URL https://beyondconference.org/
 
Description BEYOND Conference. FFF participation in wider CICP conference. 
Form Of Engagement Activity A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach International
Primary Audience Industry/Business
Results and Impact 20-21st October 2021. Industry Conference. Blended event, ~600 attendees, 200 physical, 400 online.
FFF Members including Lockwood Publishing and Numerion Software participated in a panel discussion on fashion in the metaverse chaired by Prof Jane Harris (BFTT). Dr Dawn Ellams (Royal College of Art) also spoke in a session focusing on sustainability and innovation in the fashion industry using examples taken from across FFF Responsive R&D projects.
Profile-raising of FFF programme among wider creative industries and strengthening of relationships with network members whom the FFF team nominated to participate.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2021
URL https://beyondconference.org/b21/ondemand/
 
Description BEYOND: Creative Research Showcases. Cardiff 
Form Of Engagement Activity A talk or presentation
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach International
Primary Audience Professional Practitioners
Results and Impact A three day conference in October 2022, where thinkers, makers, investors and researchers across the creative industries come together to explore the relationship between creative research and business innovation. The 5th annual BEYOND conference took place at the Cardiff City Hall, with additional activities at the Museum of Wales and online.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2022
URL https://beyondconference.org/b22/showcase/3d-woven-trousers-for-a-zero-waste-future/
 
Description Back to Baselines presentation, Munich (21-Mar-2024) 
Form Of Engagement Activity A talk or presentation
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach International
Primary Audience Industry/Business
Results and Impact A presentation around Net Zero transition for the fashion and textile sector, LITAC industrial network, ethos and how to get involved. Content includes outcomes from the Future Fashion Factory award and planned activity for Back to Baselines, specifically on how to engage via the Sustainable Transition Fund.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2024
URL https://www.performancedays.com/
 
Description Bishop Young Academy - Applied Creativity Lab, Fast Fashion (15th December 2023) 
Form Of Engagement Activity A talk or presentation
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach Local
Primary Audience Schools
Results and Impact I provided an online introduction to an Applied Creativity Lab which was organised by the school to develop young people's thinking skills and help them find new solutions to climate change issues. The pupils were tasked to find new ways they could help to reduce the impact of fast fashion.
Morning workshop.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2023
URL https://www.bishopyoungacademy.co.uk/
 
Description Blackrock Visit 
Form Of Engagement Activity A talk or presentation
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach National
Primary Audience Industry/Business
Results and Impact Provided a presentation to representatives of Black Rock Investments to demonstrate the global challenges and opportunities the fashion and textile industry has.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2019
 
Description Briefing Presentation at the Textile Centre of Excellence, Huddersfield, UK 
Form Of Engagement Activity A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach Regional
Primary Audience Industry/Business
Results and Impact Members of industry and representatives of the TCE attended to discuss the R&D plans of the Future Fashion Factory
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2018
 
Description British Textiles Biennial, panel member at "Making Matters x Levi's Digital and British Council" "Conversations in Creativity" (October 25th, Blackburn Cathedral), Creative Lancashire. 
Form Of Engagement Activity Participation in an activity, workshop or similar
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach International
Primary Audience Public/other audiences
Results and Impact There were about 20 people in the cathedral, participants from Levi's Jeans Denim designers from the Netherlands HQ on Zoom. The event was streamed live to registered attendees.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2021
URL https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XB9vkkOxP4g
 
Description Brotherton Circle Event - international dissemination of FFF research (UoL alumni) 
Form Of Engagement Activity Participation in an activity, workshop or similar
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach International
Primary Audience Supporters
Results and Impact Dissemination of FFF research to international audience of UoL alumni (participants in the UK and the USA).
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2021
 
Description CICP Colloquium - Bristol (9th November 2023) 
Form Of Engagement Activity A talk or presentation
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach National
Primary Audience Professional Practitioners
Results and Impact CICP Colloquium event - arranged by the Bath & Bristol CICP.
A series of presentations from CICP members followed by a workshop / discussion - working towards the publication of a special edition of the journal 'City, Culture and Society'.
Follow up activity planned in 2024.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2023
URL https://www.sciencedirect.com/journal/city-culture-and-society
 
Description CICP Demonstrators - Show and Tell, Cardiff (07-Dec-2023) 
Form Of Engagement Activity Participation in an activity, workshop or similar
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach National
Primary Audience Professional Practitioners
Results and Impact Participation in a Creative Industries workshop event, sharing information on progress with the Fashion Demonstrator programme to that date. Deliverable 1a had already been published (launched 30th June 2023 at the FFF Showcase event) and work progressing for Deliverable 1b. Presentation at this event by myself (Rainton, S.), Anja Connor-Crabb, UoL, and Amy Hulme, UAL.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2023
 
Description CICP Researchers' Network: Embedding Design Practice in Digital Fashion technology R&D 
Form Of Engagement Activity A talk or presentation
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach National
Primary Audience Professional Practitioners
Results and Impact The Creative Industry Cluster Programme (CICP) Researchers' Network is a group set up by AHRC for researchers involved with the cluster projgramme to network with each other and share research activities. I was invited to present some of the research I am leading on in the Future Fashion Factory Creative Cluster. The presentation introduced the mapping of R&D activities I am undertaking with FFF to understand and define the spectrum of methods from pure R&D to practice-based approaches.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2021
 
Description CICP Symposium - BEYOND 2023 - presentation (22nd November 2023) 
Form Of Engagement Activity A talk or presentation
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach National
Primary Audience Professional Practitioners
Results and Impact Presentation for the CICP Symposium organised by Andrew Chitty on the afternoon of Day 2, BEYOND 2023 (Wednesday 22nd November 2023). The audience consisted of a mixture of academic, industrial, third sector, funders and policy makers. The outcome of this symposium is proposed as a book, or similiar, containing a collection of best practise from across the CICP programme. Still to be confimed.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2023
URL https://beyondconference.org/b23/schedule/
 
Description CNN International 
Form Of Engagement Activity A magazine, newsletter or online publication
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach International
Primary Audience Public/other audiences
Results and Impact Provided technical input for article on fashion, technology and sustainability
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2019
URL https://www.cnn.com/2019/09/27/business/technology-fashion-sustainability/index.html
 
Description Can fungi replace leather for retailers? Dr Mark Taylor 
Form Of Engagement Activity A magazine, newsletter or online publication
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach International
Primary Audience Public/other audiences
Results and Impact Dr Mark Taylor quoted in international news article about leather alternatives '"There are harmful chemicals and water involved in the [animal] leather process," said Taylor. "So looking towards natural replacements that are plant-based was an obvious route."

Mycelium is not the only contender within material innovation, though. Taylor noted that pineapple and cactus-based options are also being considered for usage by retailers.

Since creating a more sustainable retail industry doesn't have a one-size-fits-all solution, brands are aiming for progress rather than perfection.

"The environment can't wait until 2040 or 2050 - we need to make big, climate positive strides fast," Reformation's Talbot said. "And we believe in collaboration and cross-sharing insights towards a better, shared future."
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2022
URL https://www.retaildive.com/news/retailers-mushroom-fungi-mycelium-sustainable-leather/632386/
 
Description Celebrating the Creative Industries, Aviva Studios 
Form Of Engagement Activity Participation in an activity, workshop or similar
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach National
Primary Audience Industry/Business
Results and Impact Invited DCMS event at Aviva Studios, Manchester hosted by the Secretary of State.
Participation in the round-table discussion session on the impact of AI in the creative industries.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2023
 
Description Chaired main session "Digital Fashion Futures: How are brands and consumers embracing digital fashion, and what does it mean for the future of design?" at the Future Fashion Factory Showcase 
Form Of Engagement Activity A talk or presentation
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach International
Primary Audience Industry/Business
Results and Impact Chaired main session "Digital Fashion Futures: How are brands and consumers embracing digital fashion, and what does it mean for the future of design?" at the Future Fashion Factory (FFF) Showcase in June 2022. Speakers at this session included Lili Eva Bartha (Digital Fashion Framework), Rebecca Morter (Lone Design Club) and Subham Jain (XR Couture). We discussed innovations and advancements related to digital fashion, highlighting to the audience the possible opportunities for digital fashion to transform the future fashion industry.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2022
URL https://futurefashionfactory.org/innovation/virtual-showcase-2022/
 
Description Challenges for a sustainable wool and cashmere industry 
Form Of Engagement Activity A talk or presentation
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach International
Primary Audience Industry/Business
Results and Impact this has led to an increased international academic/industrial links between China and UK
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2019
URL http://www.ctes.com.cn/art/2019/8/13/art_874_53104.html
 
Description China Fashion Now: Inside China's Fashion Industry (18th March 2020, 18:00-19:30) 
Form Of Engagement Activity A talk or presentation
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach International
Primary Audience Industry/Business
Results and Impact Aligned with FFF's work, in liaison with the Leeds City Region LEP, to promote Yorkshire fashion & textiles to China.

Professor Natascha Radclyffe-Thomas will take a broad look at China's fashion industry. Learn about the past, present and future of China's key fashion city Shanghai and consider China's potential role in a sustainable future for fashion.
The site of China's first department stores and the heart of China's tailoring industry, Shanghai was associated both with innovations in fashion production and fashion retail, particularly in the "Golden Age" of the 1920s and 1930s. But is Shanghai still the centre of China's fashion scene, and which other cities are emerging to compete for its crown as China's pre-eminent fashion city?
The scale of China's fashion footprint in textile and fashion production and consumption has enormous implications for the future of fashion. The talk will also discuss how the industry and consumers are responding to the challenges and opportunities of sustainable fashion.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2020
URL https://futurefashionfactory.org/event/china-fashion-now-inside-chinas-fashion-industry/
 
Description Climate Emergency Advisory Committee - Consultative Meeting 
Form Of Engagement Activity A broadcast e.g. TV/radio/film/podcast (other than news/press)
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach Regional
Primary Audience Policymakers/politicians
Results and Impact Invited Presentation and Q&A at the live-streamed, Climate Emergency Advisory Committee - Consultative Meeting organised by Leeds City Council
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2022
URL https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GsGNk08FF6c
 
Description Cloud Based Manufacturing for Artists and Designers (25th February 2020, 18:00-20:00) 
Form Of Engagement Activity A talk or presentation
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach National
Primary Audience Industry/Business
Results and Impact Future Fashion Factory member Patricia Shea is a professional textile designer with extensive experience in the Fashion and Home Decor industries in New York and many years of actively engaging in multiple print on demand platforms.

This workshop will cover:
What exactly is print on demand and the Sell, Produce, Deliver business model.
Some of the most successful worldwide print on demand manufacturers/websites and what they sell.
Some of the amazing possibilities which are open to any designer or artist via these manufacturers and websites.
What are the technical 'know how's' needed to use these websites.
Financial viability - no start up costs but what costs are involved and what are your possibilities for earnings.
How to start marketing your print on demand online stores.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2020
URL https://futurefashionfactory.org/event/cloud-based-manufacturing-for-artists-and-designers/
 
Description Clubhouse Fashion - talk at industry round table event (London, 14th September 2019, 25 attendees) 
Form Of Engagement Activity A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach National
Primary Audience Industry/Business
Results and Impact Dr Mark Sumner spoke about his research on sustainability in the fashion industry at this industry round table, organised by Future Fashion Factory industry partner Global Fashion Marketplace to coincide with London Fashion Week.

This event served to raise the profile of Future Fashion Factory, and its Core Research Theme of sustainability and circular economies, among a group of small fashion businesses which had low awareness of the Programme beforehand. It also strengthened the Programme's relationship with an industry partner who later submitted an Expression of Interest for funding Call 2.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2019
URL https://futurefashionfactory.org/event/clubhouse-fashion-sustainability-debate/
 
Description Clubhouse Fashion Panel Debate 
Form Of Engagement Activity A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach Regional
Primary Audience Public/other audiences
Results and Impact Took part in a panel discussion about the future of the fashion industry.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2019
 
Description Clubhouse Fashion: Technology Solutions for Sustainable Fashion (15th February 2020, 18:00-22:00) 
Form Of Engagement Activity A talk or presentation
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach National
Primary Audience Industry/Business
Results and Impact Students from Leeds University Business School (LUBS) innovation workshop, FFF challenge Industry 4.0 benefitting fashion industry

Leaps forward in technology over recent years mean that artificial intelligence (AI) no longer lingers in the realm of science fiction, but is now an everyday part of our lives. Due to an increase in availability and sophistication, it is already working for innovative fashion businesses to solve some of the industries biggest problems, particularly in regards to sustainability.
It is said that AI can increase business productivity by 40%.
At Clubhouse Fashion, organised by Future Fashion Factory members Global Fashion Marketplace, expert speakers will explore these topics and more, looking at technology solutions for sustainable fashion. The question is how can your fashion businesses start using these tools to improve productivity, reduce waste and innovate to solve industry wide problems that impact the planet?
Future Fashion Factory members can register with their guests for 50% off tickets.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2020
URL https://futurefashionfactory.org/event/clubhouse-fashion-feb-2020/
 
Description Conference: The Creative Applications of XR (1st August 2020, 10:00-18:00) 
Form Of Engagement Activity Participation in an activity, workshop or similar
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach Regional
Primary Audience Undergraduate students
Results and Impact This newly formed society has been associated with FFF and LIDA (Leeds Institute for Data Analytics) since inception, the application of XR within fashion & textiles is closely aligned with FFF's 'skills & education' Core Research Theme.

Leeds Extended Reality Society is a student formed group from the University of Leeds with the aim to build a university-wide platform for students, academics and external organisations to collaborate, innovate and shape the future of extended reality.
The official launch event for the society, 'The Creative Applications of XR' virtual conference is a day packed with speakers across the digital world, Q&A sessions, interactive polls and an exciting prize draw, as well as being a platform to promote internships and projects.
Speakers include surgeon Professor Shafi Ahmed, award winning artist Rosie Summers, and Professor Mark Mon Williams from the Centre for Immersive Technologies within the University.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2020
URL https://futurefashionfactory.org/event/creative-applications-of-xr/
 
Description Contributed to BBC Feature - Why wearing 'one favourite garment' all the time makes sense (19th September 2023) 
Form Of Engagement Activity A press release, press conference or response to a media enquiry/interview
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach National
Primary Audience Media (as a channel to the public)
Results and Impact A BBC Culture feature piece that helps explain UoL research that indicates that there is no correlation between a clothing item's retail price and its physical durability.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2023
URL https://www.bbc.com/culture/article/20230918-why-wearing-one-favourite-garment-all-the-time-makes-se...
 
Description Contribution to Channel 4 Podcast on sustainable fashion 
Form Of Engagement Activity A press release, press conference or response to a media enquiry/interview
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach National
Primary Audience Media (as a channel to the public)
Results and Impact invited to talk on the Channel podcast series to explore the complexity of sustainable fashion with a focus on re-use of old garments
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2022
URL http://www.channel4.com/news/the-fast-fashion-landfill-in-ghana
 
Description Contribution to the Circular Fashion Ecosystem Report - Blueprint for the Future 
Form Of Engagement Activity A magazine, newsletter or online publication
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach National
Primary Audience Industry/Business
Results and Impact Contributed to consultation and findings from Phase 1 of the Institute of Positive Fashion's Circular Fashion Ecosystem Project.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2022
URL https://instituteofpositivefashion.com/uploads/files/1/CFE/Circular_Fashion_Ecosytem_Report.pdf
 
Description Convene and chair Facial appearance workshop in 30th Color Imaging Conference, 14th November, Scottsdale, USA 
Form Of Engagement Activity A talk or presentation
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach International
Primary Audience Industry/Business
Results and Impact The facial appearance measurement, perception, rendering and reproduction workshop is to bring together practitioners and academics from a range of disciplines to explore the outstanding issues in the measurement, reproduction, and perception of facial appearance, with a particular emphasis on facial imaging. The goal of this workshop will be to understand more deeply what the most pressing challenges are in this area, and stimulate cross-disciplinary collaborations that might help address these issues. In particular we aim to help bridge the gap between facial imaging and measurement in academic environments, with facial colour imaging in industry and medicine.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2022
 
Description Culture Costume and Dress 2021 Birmingham (5th-7th May 2021) 
Form Of Engagement Activity A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach International
Primary Audience Professional Practitioners
Results and Impact Presented a paper 'A Fashion Buyer's Journey: The career of Vanessa Denza MBE' as part of the conference programme on the 7th May as part of The business of fashion session. This is organised as an annual event by the Dress in Context Research Centre, based in Birmingham and the theme was The Body Politic: Dress, Identity and Power.

The Dress in Context Research Centre is concerned with dress in all its manifestations, and its relationship to the individual and society. It involves researchers from a range of backgrounds, including fashion, costume, jewellery, psychology, history, literature, art and media. The Centre places emphasis on working collaboratively with academics from other institutions, as well as building bridges to those from outside the academy. In bringing these varying perspectives together, we seek to develop a richer collective understanding of the significance of dress in a broad range of contexts, and in the process, develop a new field of interdisciplinary study.

The presentations are still available to view on the website and there was interaction and promotion on social media platforms including twitter.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2021
URL https://ccd2021.org/Conference/
 
Description Data Analytics - Identifying the effect of fabric tactile properties on the retail sales 
Form Of Engagement Activity A talk or presentation
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach National
Primary Audience Industry/Business
Results and Impact this presented a real-world case studies highlighting how AI and data-analytics is being used in textile and fashion businesses with industry partner (i.e., Burberry) to inform the design of new products and enable better business decision-making.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2019
URL https://futurefashionfactory.org/event/how-to-use-artificial-intelligence-in-textile-and-fashion-bus...
 
Description Data Driven Design and Manufacturing Philosophy using Artificial Intelligence 
Form Of Engagement Activity A talk or presentation
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach National
Primary Audience Undergraduate students
Results and Impact Non-Wovens Network UK
5th March 2021 - Prof Steve Westland, Professor of Colour Science in the School of Design, University of Leeds presented his paper:
Data Driven Design and Manufacturing Philosophy using Artificial Intelligence
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2021
URL http://www.nonwovensnetwork.com/events/
 
Description Demonstration at FFF year 1 Showcase October 2019 
Form Of Engagement Activity Participation in an activity, workshop or similar
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach National
Primary Audience Professional Practitioners
Results and Impact Researchers and FFF industry partners took part in the show case presenting innovative projects and new technologies at the famous Salts Mill, Saltaire. Interactive demonstrations were provided for the audience to explore some of the innovative ideas associated with different projects across FFF Network.
I had the privilege to illustrate some of the main ideas surrounding my project : 'What does it mean for a fabric handle to be aesthetically pleasing?', 'What does it take to digitally communicate the fabric handle?' These are the leading questions in 'Digital Communicating of Fabric Aesthetical Properties'.
A framework of the project was portrayed requiring numerical models incorporating specific fabric properties, by combining specialist skills in textiles, fashion design, computation, virtual reality and sensing technologies.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2019
URL http://futurefashionfactory.org
 
Description Design Culture (of) Making: Investigating Creative Processes and Pedagogy as Fashion Thinking. Conference paper. 
Form Of Engagement Activity A talk or presentation
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach International
Primary Audience Professional Practitioners
Results and Impact This paper shares research being developed through an Art and Humanities Research Council, Creative Industries Cluster funded 5-year project, the aim of which is to transform the competitiveness, agility and creative output of the UK's fashion industry. Its focus is to develop innovative , multidisciplinary STEAM+D based fashion designers, industry facing training, and education for post graduates fashion students, breaking down traditional fashion and technology silos.

Through their work a group of researchers at the Royal College of Art attached to the Future Fashion Factory Project (FFF) propose fashion thinking as a new rational for fashion education that has three distinct strands - fashion thinking for social- change, fashion thinking for applied specialisation and fashion thinking through advanced manufacturing. Fashion thinking through advanced manufacturing is discussed here highlighting Discourse ,a tool developed to enable investigation into current pedagogic models, and revealing the importance of developing new language competencies for fashion.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2021
URL https://cumulusroma2020.org/paper-sessions/
 
Description Design and Technology Subject Leader Development Meeting 
Form Of Engagement Activity A talk or presentation
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach Regional
Primary Audience Professional Practitioners
Results and Impact Provided information and guidance regarding fashion, culture and sustainability to the Regional Design and Tech Teachers group
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2019
 
Description Developing an Ecosystem to Support Sustainable Change-International Textile & Fashion Congress (16th-17th March 2023) 
Form Of Engagement Activity A talk or presentation
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach International
Primary Audience Professional Practitioners
Results and Impact Developing an Ecosystem to Support Sustainable Change - a reflection of the outputs of the FFF programme to help strengthen connections with industry members and professionals from across the world, by way of sharing expertise on innovative textiles and fashion trends that are tackling global challenges. Presentation by Sue Rainton, FFF Programme Manager. This presentation led onto a contribution with the conference proceedings and the development of a related co-authored paper with Dr. Kevin Almond.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2023
URL https://ituyayinevi.itu.edu.tr/docs/librariesprovider59/bildiriler/%C4%B1tfc-2023-proceed%C4%B1ng-bo...
 
Description Digital Storytelling - How Brands Are Using Technology to Innovate: external speaker event (37 attended, 8th May 2019) 
Form Of Engagement Activity A talk or presentation
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach Regional
Primary Audience Industry/Business
Results and Impact Jonathan Chippindale, Chief Executive of Holition (https://holition.com/), spoke to FFF industry partners and students about the ways in which digital technology is reshaping the relationship between brands and consumers. The talk sparked lively questions and discussion. 37 students and industry partners attended the event, which raised the FFF programme's profile within the University and attracted 3 guests who became FFF members as a result.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2019
URL https://futurefashionfactory.org/event/digital-storytelling/
 
Description Digital Technologies Overview, TCoE. 8th January 2020. 6 attendees. 
Form Of Engagement Activity Participation in an activity, workshop or similar
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach Regional
Primary Audience Industry/Business
Results and Impact A formal digital technologies workshop introducing staff members from FFF network member Camira Fabrics to the range of digital tools available. Level 3 staff cohort. TCoE led workshop.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2020
URL https://www.camirafabrics.com/en
 
Description Discussion about the nature of colour and colour education 
Form Of Engagement Activity A press release, press conference or response to a media enquiry/interview
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach International
Primary Audience Public/other audiences
Results and Impact Stephen Westland was interviewed on Times Radio (the radio arm of The Times and The Sunday Times about colour. The discussion covered aspects of colour ontology, colour naming and colour literacy. The Colour Literacy Project is an international project that has been set up to challenge and change the way that people are taught about colour in schools, colleges and universities. The interview took place on Saturday 2nd March 2024.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2024
 
Description Does Colour Exist 
Form Of Engagement Activity A talk or presentation
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach Regional
Primary Audience Public/other audiences
Results and Impact Over 200 people from the University of the Third Age (Uo3A) attended a talk entitled 'Does colour exist?' The talk was intended to challenge existing misconceptions and generate debate about the nature of colour. The talk was one hour long and generated a large number of questions and comments from the audience.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2024
URL https://u3atod.org.uk/february-2024-meeting-does-colour-exist/
 
Description Engagement event with school teachers from the Kirklees region promoting textiles - organised with WOVEN Textiles Festival 
Form Of Engagement Activity Participation in an activity, workshop or similar
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach Local
Primary Audience Schools
Results and Impact Organising and running of a school teacher engagement event with colleagues from the Department of Fashion & Textiles to promote textile research and career opportunities for students. Focus on the Future Fashion Factory programme and the relevance to the UK textile industry. Generated interest in the project, the UK textile industry and the areas of research. Teachers reported they were amazed by the scope of the research and there was a lot of interest in the research and the projects. Organised and delivered by FFF members Dr Andrew Hewitt and Sarah Agar Brennan.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2019
 
Description Everyday Fashion in Yorkshire 1939 - 1999. Everyday Fashion Conference: Extraordinary Stories of Ordinary Clothes. 
Form Of Engagement Activity A talk or presentation
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach National
Primary Audience Undergraduate students
Results and Impact Almond, K. & Evans, E. (2019) Everyday Fashion in Yorkshire 1939 - 1999
Everyday Fashion Conference: Extraordinary Stories of Ordinary Clothes. Joint University of Leeds, University of Huddersfield conference.

University of Huddersfield - Richard Steinitz Building Atrium and Harold Wilson Building (HWG/03 and 04): Thursday 27th June
University of Leeds - Clothworkers Building: Friday 28th June
School of Art, Design and Architecture
Department of Fashion & Textiles
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2019
URL https://research.hud.ac.uk/art-design/events/everyday-fashion-conference/
 
Description Exhibitor and panellists at Beyond Cardiff 2022. 
Form Of Engagement Activity A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach National
Primary Audience Industry/Business
Results and Impact Future Fashion Factory attended the Beyond 2022 conference, taking place in Cardiff. As part of the conference, Future Fashion Factory Co-Investigator Professor Parikshit Goswami led on the 'Benchmarking Sustainability and Challenges to Net-Zero' panel discussion, a multidisciplinary session bringing together the disparate fields of science, technology, and creative practices to explore the challenges of benchmarking sustainability and how a transdisciplinary approach could significantly help to overcome the obstacles to Net-Zero. It explored how existing knowledge from a discipline could be migrated to other fields to solve industrial and social challenges, taking examples from the Future Fashion Factory programme. Given the scale of the conference, the panel furthered our impact and engagement with members of the public, emboldening our profile amongst the fellow Cluster Profiles, but also on a Welsh national scale.

In addition, attending Beyond 2022's poster exhibition was Dr Lindsey Taylor from the University of Leeds, and Graysha Audren, founder of Future Fashion Factory member organisation, Weffan, who discussed how they worked together as part of a Future Fashion Factory project to produce fully-fashioned, 3D-woven garments in a single step, by merging the making of the fabric with the making of the garment, thus preventing waste. A positive result of this networking was seen in an uptick in our membership figures, as delegates went on to enquire about joining the network, citing the poster exhibition as the cause.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2022
URL https://beyondconference.org/
 
Description Exploring Creative Practice Research in Design and Design Discourse: 
Form Of Engagement Activity Participation in an activity, workshop or similar
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach Local
Primary Audience Professional Practitioners
Results and Impact I delivered a talk about the Robotics Living Lab to lecturers and practitioners at Glasgow School of Art. I then ran a workshop to encourage staff/practitioners to think about how they could develop their own research as practice research. The powerpoint was shared with the audience via GSA website.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2023
 
Description Exploring cobot technologies and agile tooling to aid creative garment making to improve ethics in clothing manufacture. 
Form Of Engagement Activity A talk or presentation
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach International
Primary Audience Industry/Business
Results and Impact 2022. Keynote. Exploring cobot technologies and agile tooling to aid creative garment making to improve ethics in clothing manufacture. ICRES Value - sharing between Humans and Robots conference. Seoul, South Korea. 19th July.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2022
 
Description FAST X SLOW Fashion interview 
Form Of Engagement Activity Engagement focused website, blog or social media channel
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach Regional
Primary Audience Public/other audiences
Results and Impact the interview as an additional audio-visual to the Fast x Slow Fashion exhibition, particularly addressing the implications of fast fashion and the need for a sustainable fashion future. Talking head interviews with 2 - 3 industry professionals in/local to Leeds were conducted, i was requested because of the work i have carried out on sustainable fashion.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2020
URL https://www.bing.com/videos/search?view=detail&mid=4ACA0BE1293A6DF225D54ACA0BE1293A6DF225D5&q=fast+x...
 
Description FFF CRT Event, Data driven design 
Form Of Engagement Activity A talk or presentation
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach International
Primary Audience Industry/Business
Results and Impact The event was chaired by Prof. Stephen Westland, where presentations were provided by Dr. Peihua Lai and I on the topic of 'Data Driven Design'.
My presentation subject was on 'The Application of AI in Characterizing Fabric Tactile Features'. The data science project life cycle was explained in the context of the ongoing projects for characterizing fabric tactile properties and the already developed and deployed 2 software. The exploratory data analysis for finding insights on the collected subjective and objective fabric tactile properties were explained. Examples were provided on the topic of finding patterns and structure within the data and performing the feature extraction and machine learning modelling were further discussed. There were between 20-30 audience from woven and non-woven industries, and academic professional participants giving rise to a fruitful Q&A session on the training machine learning models, their generalizability, performance, and hyper-parameter tuning.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2022
 
Description FFF Engagement Meeting 
Form Of Engagement Activity A talk or presentation
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach National
Primary Audience Industry/Business
Results and Impact Presentation to invited guests at the FFF business engagement event in London. Presentation provided the framework for understanding the need for initiatives like FFF in the retail and fashion industries.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2019
 
Description FFF Event, Communicating Fabrics Aesthetics presentation 
Form Of Engagement Activity A talk or presentation
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach International
Primary Audience Industry/Business
Results and Impact A presentation was provided on the subject of the 'Communication of Fabric Aesthetics'. An overview of the research project was provided were LUFHES had been used as the main measurement device for quantifying fabric handle properties collected from a large number of fabric samples. We analysed this data using machine learning and data science tools and characterized fabric surface and mechanical properties, were these features are highly associated with the tactile perception in human exploratory fabric handle. The developed Software for predicting mechanical fabric tactile features for finished fabrics for WTJohnson company was briefly discussed. The technologies as well as ultrasound for generating fabric surface tactile sensation as a novel idea in the domain was explored during the presentation.
The presentation targeted the FFF industry partners, and textile professionals including international university academics. The Q&A session raised interesting discussions on the haptic technologies.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2022
 
Description FFF Programme Manager visit to British Resort Association (27th June 2019) 
Form Of Engagement Activity A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach National
Primary Audience Professional Practitioners
Results and Impact The Future Fashion Factory Programme Manager met with representatives from the BRC to discuss both GLAA thinking in the Fashion & Textiles sector and BRC collaboration in the emerging InnovateUK submission on 'end-to-end traceability'. The BRC agreed to support the project by communications with their members and committing to dissemination of learning from the project should it progress.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2019
URL http://www.brc.org.uk/
 
Description FFF Programme meeting with staff from a Retail Brand and an example UK-based manufacturer. Visit to the manufacturer's premise (04/04/2019) 
Form Of Engagement Activity Participation in an activity, workshop or similar
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach National
Primary Audience Industry/Business
Results and Impact A major Retail Brand, who is an active member of the FFF network, invited the FFF Director and Programme Manager to visit one of the manufacturing facilities they regularly use in Leicester with a view to illustrating good practise (in relation to compliance with UK employment guidance / working conditions) and providing a contrast with other UK provision. A very useful discussion was held on the visit. This activity supports both the GLAA meetings attended by FFF staff and input into the InnovateUK 'end-to-end traceability' submissions later in the year.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2019
 
Description FFF Retailer Engagement Event. Part of the FFF inception activity, utilising UKFT connections to engage with London-based retail brands. 
Form Of Engagement Activity A talk or presentation
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach National
Primary Audience Industry/Business
Results and Impact Outcomes from this event included participants formally signing up to the FFF network and from these organisations applications to the FFF Responsive R&D funding calls and participation in larger FFF managed follow-on funding applications.
Following the event Brora, Gieves & Hawkes, New Look and Arcadia Group all signed up to become FFF network members. Gieves & Hawkes went on to apply for Call 1 R&D funding which they won. New Look went on to support further FFF led funding applications.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2019
 
Description FFF engagement with the Gangmasters and Labour Abuse Authority (GLAA) 2019 (3 meetings during 2019 (April, June, December), ~20-25 people attended each meeting) 
Form Of Engagement Activity A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach National
Primary Audience Industry/Business
Results and Impact Future Fashion Factory Programme staff were invited to attend one of the first Fashion & Textile focused working groups held at the Next head quarters in Leicester (4th April 2019), both the FFF Director & Programme Manager attended this first meeting. The FFF PM attended subsequent meetings in London, 27th June & 12th December 2019. The working group brings together retail brands with UK policy bodies & enforcements agencies to seek to address a range of labour abuse issues across the industry.
GLAA's mission is to work in partnership to protect vulnerable and exploited workers.
"Our values define who we are and how we go about delivering on the promise we have made to protect vulnerable workers from exploitation. All GLAA colleagues are expected to adhere to these values which place integrity, professionalism, teamwork, commitment and respect, at the heart of everything we do.
Our aims will be achieved by:
- Preventing worker exploitation
- Protecting vulnerable people
- Tackling unlicensed/criminal activity and ensuring those licensed operate within the law
The 6 strategic objectives which will ensure we meet our aim and priorities are:
- Disrupt criminal activity within the labour market
- Engage with stakeholders to minimise and manage risk
- Support compliant business
- Work in partnership to protect workers' rights and prevent labour exploitation
- Maintain a credible licensing scheme, creating a level playing field and promoting growth
- Identify and support victims of labour exploitation

FFF continues to keep a watching brief on this activity and will disseminate good practise & learning throughout its membership network as appropriate.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2019
URL https://www.gla.gov.uk/
 
Description Fashion & Luxury Marketing for Consumers Textbook - Something Wicked case study 
Form Of Engagement Activity A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach International
Primary Audience Other audiences
Results and Impact This project involved a working group of academics from The University of Leeds, University of Huddersfield, The Lebanese American University and The Haub School of Business at Saint Joseph's University in Philadelphia to develop a series of design led business case studies. Something Wicked, a Leeds based bespoke lingerie company and member of the Fashion Future Factory was analysed to form part of a forthcoming textbook - Fashion & Luxury Marketing for Consumers by Prof. Michael Solomon. The output will form part of Chapter 8 Individual Consumer Dynamics: Motivation And The Self-Concept. This textbook is currently in the writing stage with a hoped publication date Summer 2021.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2021
 
Description Fashion Fiesta Leeds - a charity fashion show showcasing independent designers (29 November 2019, Crowne Plaza Hotel 6-8.30pm) 
Form Of Engagement Activity Participation in an activity, workshop or similar
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach Regional
Primary Audience Public/other audiences
Results and Impact Suzy Shepherd (FFF Co-Director) served on the judging panel for this competition for independent fashion designers. Sustainability, one of the FFF Programme's Core Research Theme, was one of the main judging criteria. The winner, Corinne Coolican, became a Future Fashion Factory member with her brand Cooli after finding out more about the FFF Programme during the event.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2019
URL https://www.fashionfiesta.co.uk/
 
Description Fashion Forum 
Form Of Engagement Activity Participation in an activity, workshop or similar
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach National
Primary Audience Undergraduate students
Results and Impact The Fashion Forum is a guest lecture series where experts from across the fashion industry, including fashion designers, fashion journalists, fashion photographers, recruiters, buyers, marketing executives, C.E.O.s and alumni, to speak to our students. Originally organised for BA Fashion Design students, the forum is now open to all students at the University of Leeds. The forum helps students make up their own opinions and judgments about where they see themselves working within the industry once they have graduated. Students are able to ask questions and network with the speakers. The Fashion Forum ensures the school receives appropriate and expert advice on the relevance of its teaching programmes and helps us to identify industry sectors and appropriate businesses that are actively recruiting graduates in the subject area. It also helps the school to secure industrial projects to integrate within the undergraduate and postgraduate programmes which can help improve student employability and higher level-skills.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2020,2021,2022,2023
 
Description Fashion Question Time 
Form Of Engagement Activity A talk or presentation
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach International
Primary Audience Public/other audiences
Results and Impact Was part of the panel for the Fashion Question TIme event, organised by Fashion Revolutions, taking questions from the audience. On the panel were policy makers, politicians and business.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2019
 
Description Fashion Research Seminar (19th September 2023) 
Form Of Engagement Activity Participation in an activity, workshop or similar
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach International
Primary Audience Industry/Business
Results and Impact The first half of the seminar was delivered by Sandy Black, Professor of Fashion and Textile Design and Technology, London College of Fashion, UAL, in a session titled, 'Publishing with Fashion Practice.' The talk outlined the origins, purpose, and scope of the academic journal Fashion Practice: Design, Creative Process and the Fashion Industry, a Routledge journal. It also included insights into the review process and route to publication, including examples from past issues over the last 15 years - which carried particular value to the ECRs present amongst the attendees. The second half of the seminar was delivered by Andrew Groves, Professor of Fashion Design at the University of Westminster, London, and the Director of the Westminster Menswear Archive which he established in 2016, in a session titled, 'Inside the Westminster Menswear Archive.' The presentation focused on the establishment of the WMA, its work with students, researchers, and industry, and the exhibitions that have resulted from the collection's formation.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2023
URL https://allevents.in/mobile/amp-event.php?event_id=10000698331748057
 
Description Fashion Webinar - Sustainable Threads - What We Can Learn from Fashion Archives (12th April 2023) 
Form Of Engagement Activity Participation in an activity, workshop or similar
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach International
Primary Audience Industry/Business
Results and Impact The webinar was delivered by Elaine Evans from the Yorkshire Fashion Archive and Dr. Danielle Sprecher from the Westminster Menswear Archive, while being moderated by Co-Founder and Professor of the Digital Fashion Group Academy, Sean Chiles. The hour-long session touched on many salient discussion points, including Yorkshire as a historical centre of textile manufacturing, how the contemporary fashion industry uses archives, different forms of mending and how this informs 'conscious consumerism'.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2023
URL https://allevents.in/online/sustainable-threads-what-we-can-learn-from-fashion-archives/100005895056...
 
Description Fashion in the UK: Challenges and Opportunities - a public talk with invited speaker Adam Mansell (UKFT) (13 November 2019, University of Leeds 14:00-16:00) 
Form Of Engagement Activity A talk or presentation
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach Regional
Primary Audience Undergraduate students
Results and Impact Adam Mansell, Chief Executive of the UK Fashion and Textile Association (UKFT), gave a talk on the growth, opportunities and challenges for today's fashion and textile industry. Over 60 people attended, including local designers, local government, and fashion students at Leeds and other institutions, raising awareness of the Future Fashion Factory Programme and attracting attention on social media from UKFT, and local government figures.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2019
URL https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/fashion-in-the-uk-challenges-and-opportunities-tickets-78346052151
 
Description First meeting of the 'Manufacturing Innovation' sub-committee for West Yorkshire 'Manufacturing Task Force' (03/03/2023) 
Form Of Engagement Activity Participation in an activity, workshop or similar
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach Regional
Primary Audience Industry/Business
Results and Impact This was a meeting of industrial and academic (University of Leeds and University of Huddersfield) partners to focus on the innovation potential of current 'Manufacturing Task Force' West Yorkshire Combined Authority (WYCA) activity.
Presentations from KTN, Textile Centre of Excellence. SR provided a short presentation on current fashion & textile funding opportunities.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2023
URL https://www.westyorks-ca.gov.uk/a-mayoral-combined-authority/mayoral-pledges/manufacturing-task-forc...
 
Description Fostering Sustainable Practises Advisory Board Meeting, 21st January 2020, London. 15 attendees. 
Form Of Engagement Activity A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach National
Primary Audience Professional Practitioners
Results and Impact BFTT organised event. Bill MacBeth of the TCoE and CRT leader for education & skills attended this meeting for FFF. The meeting was a cross-cluster information exchange opportunity which creates the basis for future sharing of best practise and joint working.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2020
URL https://sustainable-fashion.com/projects/fostering-sustainable-practices/
 
Description Functionalisation of wool fibres 
Form Of Engagement Activity A talk or presentation
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach International
Primary Audience Industry/Business
Results and Impact this has led to the increase of the UK-China academic/industrial links
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2018
URL http://www.ctes.com.cn/art/2019/9/29/art_874_71825.html
 
Description Future Fashion Factory - Supporting Retailers: programme engagement event for retailers 
Form Of Engagement Activity Participation in an activity, workshop or similar
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach National
Primary Audience Industry/Business
Results and Impact A seminar introducing representatives of major UK retailers to the Future Fashion Factory Programme's Core Research Themes and Responsive R&D funding calls. Prof Stephen Russell spoke about the Programme's support for businesses and objective to support industry growth, while Dr Mark Sumner spoke about key challenges around sustainability, changing consumer habits and other issues facing the sector.

Five retailers became Future Fashion Factory members following this event. Of these, New Look is actively engaged in on-going projects while Gieves & Hawkes submitted an application to, and was successful in, Responsive R&D funding call 1.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2019
URL https://futurefashionfactory.org/event/retailer-engagement-event/
 
Description Future Fashion Factory - Virtual Showcase 2022 
Form Of Engagement Activity Participation in an activity, workshop or similar
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach National
Primary Audience Industry/Business
Results and Impact This event brought together FFF academic and industrial partners, providing a platform to highlight some of the FFF innovations that are driving change in the sector and stimulate debate to influence and inform future direction. The day-long event included in-depth conversations with leading fashion designers: Joshua Kane discussed his bespoke tailoring and upcoming video game; Matty Bovan, the 2021 International Woolmark Prize winner shared his experiences of collaborating on his winning collection; Phoebe English discussed finding UK raw materials in her regional fibre supply chain network.

There were also panel discussions with industry experts on various topics around the challenges facing the sector and the innovation and sustainability requirements for the UK's industrial eco-system. Lutf Rehman, Senior Manager - Engineering & Quality (IM), of FFF core partner, Burberry, spoke on a Future proofing Fashion panel, discussing the essential skills required for the industry and its changes. Former COO of Timberland, Kenneth P. Pucker, shared what brands need to change for brands to make a real impact on fashion sustainability.

Feedback from the event has been extremely positive, with many FFF members attending the various talks and sessions. There was much interest around the dissemination of recordings of the showcase, which have since been developed and shared to our website.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2022
URL https://futurefashionfactory.org/event/virtual-showcase/
 
Description Future Fashion Factory / LITAC. Presentation for the ApPEARS network (25/03/2022) 
Form Of Engagement Activity Participation in an activity, workshop or similar
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach International
Primary Audience Postgraduate students
Results and Impact University of Leeds is part of the pan-European ApPEARS network. The School of Design hosted a meeting on Friday 25th March 2022 for networked students from the UK and across the European network. Sue Rainton provided an overview of the FFF Programme, and the newly formed Leeds Institute of Textiles and Colour (LITAC) for the group. Prof. Stephen Westland and Dr. Kaida Xiao also spoke at the event. Student poster session and accompanying presentations with a lab tour made up the balance of event activity.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2022
URL https://www.appears-itn.eu/
 
Description Future Fashion Factory 2021 Spring Showcase - online conference & showcase event 
Form Of Engagement Activity A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach International
Primary Audience Industry/Business
Results and Impact Future Fashion Factory Spring Showcase - Thursday 15th April 2021. 404 participants over the course of the day.
More than 40 speakers contributed to this day of online panel discussions and presentations highlighting the key themes and outcomes of Future Fashion Factory research. Speakers included members from across the FFF network as well as well-known figures including Patrick Grant (The Great British Sewing Bee) and fashion designers Joshua Kane, Edward Crutchley and Holly Fulton. Topics covered everything from digital platforms for fashion through to regenerative agriculture and materials innovation.
Over 400 people from 37 countries registered to attend the Virtual Showcase, and many more have since watched the recordings on the FFF website. FFF was also able to forge new relationships with established fashion industry figures such as Joshua Kane and manufacturers such as MAES London, who were among the dozens of new FFF members who joined after the event.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2021
URL https://futurefashionfactory.org/innovation/virtual-showcase-2021/
 
Description Future Fashion Factory Annual Showcase (30th June 2023) 
Form Of Engagement Activity Participation in an activity, workshop or similar
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach International
Primary Audience Industry/Business
Results and Impact The day merged thought-leading panel discussions, networking, and an interactive R&D exhibition area designed to spotlight members from the FFF network in over 30 display areas, the vast majority of exhibitors were recipients of FFF Responsive R&D funding. Among the Showcase's central themes were the importance of creative clusters in driving UK-wide sustainable innovation, the development of next generation materials and processes, transition to circularity in the fashion industry, and how to address major skills gaps across the industry. As a celebration of the outcomes of the Future Fashion Factory programme, the Showcase was successful in bringing together delegates that we have worked with on over 50 collaborative research & development projects, each designed to accelerate innovation and sustainable development in the UK fashion and textile industry. The Showcase served to present exciting developments across sustainable materials and processes, digitalisation, product design and circular economies. The event brought together businesses, policymakers, academics, and researchers from across the fashion, textile, and digital industries to explore new capabilities and opportunities. Keynote speakers on the day included, Tom Riordan CBE, Chief Executive of Leeds City Council, Judith Rosser-Davies, Operations Director at UK Fashion and Textile Association and Matt McCallum, Associate Director of the Arts and Humanities Research Council. Throughout the day, we held four panel discussions (which took place in NEXUS' lecture theatre), which were as follows: 'Navigating the Leeds - London Corridor,' a panel focused on fostering collaboration between these UK cities, and how to best leverage their strengths within the fashion and textiles supply chain. The panel was chaired by Sarah Angold, Designer and Sustainable Innovation Consultant, who was joined by Asher Clark, CDO | BIOM Lead, Vivobarefoot, Jamie Whitehouse, Director, Boot Repair Company, Yasmin Jones-Henry, FT Writer & Senior Strategist, RÆBURN and Shailja Dubé, Institute of Positive Fashion Lead at the British Fashion Council. The second panel was named, 'Celebrating Collaboration between Industry and Academia,' which highlighted the strengths of government grants and matchmaking by way of shining a light on some of FFF's most successful R&D project collaborative partners. The panel was chaired by Dr Dawn Ellams, Senior Tutor, the Royal College of Art, who was joined by Cherie Yang, Founder of Visualist, Duncan McKay, CEO and Founder of Aistetic, Graysha Audren, CEO of Weffan, and Rachel Clowes, CEO of Sustainable Sequins Company. The third panel was 'Manufacturing Now: Mills, Spinners and Weavers,' which was a rare insight into the operations and impacts of Yorkshire regional textile manufacturing, with a particular focus on sustainability practices, skills, and how mills work with global luxury fashion partners. The panel was chaired by Professor Steve Russell, Director, Future Fashion Factory and LITAC, who was joined by Amanda McClaren, Managing Director, AW Hainsworth, Gary Eastwood, Managing Director, Pennine Weavers, Dr John Parkinson, Managing Director, iinouiio, Judith Coates, Design Director, Abraham Moon & Sons Ltd, and Ollie Platts, Managing Director, Joshua Ellis. The final panel was named 'Transition to Next Gen Futures and Material Circularity,' which spoke about the challenges and solutions around meeting SDG targets and meeting the requirements of Textiles 2030 initiative, by way of highlighting regenerative agriculture, material innovation and design innovation. The panel was chaired by Catherine Salvidge, Strategic Technical Manager - Textiles, WRAP, who was joined by Ed Brial, CEO, Materra, Josh Nusenbaum, Managing Director, Seff Fibre, Julian Ellis-Brown, Co-Founder and CEO, SaltyCo, Jun Kamei, CEO, Amphico, and Nikita Jayasuriya, General Manager, Head of Europe at The Mills Fabrica.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2023
URL https://futurefashionfactory.org/innovation/future-fashion-factory-showcase-2023/
 
Description Future Fashion Factory Core Research Theme Roundtable; Sustainability & Circularity 
Form Of Engagement Activity A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach International
Primary Audience Industry/Business
Results and Impact The online roundtable explored how Future Fashion Factory funded R&D projects have supported design-led innovations within industry and academic collaborations for processes, materials and tooling to support the UK Fashion sectors development of sustainability & circularity practices.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2023
 
Description Future Fashion Factory Fridays; Material Innovations, Colouration Innovations, Circular Systems Innovations 
Form Of Engagement Activity Participation in an activity, workshop or similar
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach International
Primary Audience Industry/Business
Results and Impact Future Fashion Factory (FFF) Fridays were developed in response to research developed by Dr. Dawn Ellams at the Royal College of Art that identified a need within UK industry to understand the innovations required to develop circular and sustainable fashion and textile systems within UK industry.

FFF Fridays took place in October 2021 as an opportunity for FFF industry members as well as the wider international audience to learn about the innovations taking place across the FFF network and across the wider fashion industry: as a source of inspiration, to discover what is available to them and might become possible in the future, as well as how to access R&D. Designers and small businesses were central to the design of dissemination, keeping creativity at the core of each topic content was industry-focused and presented in a digestible, accessible format, enabling audiences from varied disciplines and sectors to explore the potential of innovations in their own practice and form new connections.

For this first series of FFF Fridays we developed three sessions with speakers from broad areas of the innovation area to capture a diverse & Cross discipline approach to R&D activities;
Colour Innovations
Material Innovations
Circular Systems Innovation
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2021
URL https://futurefashionfactory.org/
 
Description Future Fashion Factory Innovation Funding, Call 3 (29th May 2020) 
Form Of Engagement Activity A talk or presentation
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach National
Primary Audience Industry/Business
Results and Impact Online launch for the FFF Call 3 open innovation competition - Sue Rainton

Future Fashion Factory has grant funding available to award to eligible businesses / collaborations of businesses for projects ranging from <£10,000 up to £100,000.
This call for proposals aims to support innovative, industry-focused projects in the high value fashion and textile industries that fit with any of our five core research themes:
Last-stage customisation
Circular economy (sustainability / waste)
Aesthetic communication
Data-driven design (AI / deep learning)
Skills and education for STEAM-based designers
Find out more about our responsive R&D funding
Anyone interested in applying should email Laura Hartley (l.j.hartley@leeds.ac.uk) to book a brainstorming call with a member of our team to start the application process.
You will need to submit your expression of interest by email by 29 May 2020. You will then be assigned a member of the team to work with you on a full application that will be considered by our Investment Committee.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2020
URL https://futurefashionfactory.org/event/fff-innovation-funding-call-3/
 
Description Future Fashion Factory International Ecosystem Tour (MIT - REAP) 
Form Of Engagement Activity Participation in an activity, workshop or similar
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach International
Primary Audience Professional Practitioners
Results and Impact Leeds is part of the MIT (USA) - REAP initiative and Future Fashion Factory' Director hosted a tour for international participants to FFF company partners, showcasing the collaborative R&D eco-system that is in place: https://fashionunited.uk/news/fashion/global-leaders-from-mit-visit-hainsworth-s-mill-in-leeds/2020020647395
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2020
URL https://reap.mit.edu/cohort/leeds-city-united-kingdom/
 
Description Future Fashion Factory Wool Month Exhibition at Salts Mills 
Form Of Engagement Activity Participation in an activity, workshop or similar
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach National
Primary Audience Schools
Results and Impact Future Fashion Factory also contributed to Campaign for Wool's 'National Wool Month.' Using pieces on loan from the Yorkshire Fashion Archive, and contemporary fashion designers, we curated a free fashion exhibition for students, taking place at Salts Mill, which explored wool as a means to reflect both heritage through the years, and innovation through contemporary design and manufacturing. On display was a variety of historical garments, jacquard punch-cards as a demonstration of the earliest use of coding as used by the textile industry, as well as examples of luxury fashion. To kick-start the exhibition, we welcomed students from the University of Leeds, University of Huddersfield and Bradford College to attend our opening event on the 5th October, in which we introduced a student-focused competition. At the end of the exhibition, we announced the student prize winners in a small ceremony, judged by Yorkshire Luxury Fashion Designers, Cunnington & Sanderson.

As a result of the exhibition, we garnered much national press, with articles picked up in Telegraph & Argus, Bradford Means Business, and Drapers. We were able to convert the student attendees into Members, and were even able to foster an industry connection with one of the competition finalists and AW Hainsworth, who are in early talks about collaborating on a project using jacquard fabric made at the mill.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2022
URL https://ahc.leeds.ac.uk/design/news/article/2209/future-fashion-factory-exhibition-celebrates-yorksh...
 
Description Future Fashion Factory Year 1 Showcase. Salts Mill, Saltaire (150 attendees, 16th Ocober 2019) 
Form Of Engagement Activity Participation in an activity, workshop or similar
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach National
Primary Audience Industry/Business
Results and Impact Research from Future Fashion Factory partners was displayed in the showcase. This showcase event also included academic Core Research Theme demonstrators, some of which had already been shown at the event hosted in Leeds following the conference organised to celebrate one year since the formation of UKRI. Displays included University of Huddersfield research on plasma treatment for fabric hydrophobicity; garments made by University of Leeds students as part of a project based on the Yorkshire Fashion Archive; haptics technology for communicating fabric touch feel properties; and designs from Burberry's 'hackathon' event, presented by a University of Leeds student who was on the winning team.

The Huddersfield Textile Centre of Excellence (FFF CRT lead, education and skills) was heavily involved in promoting the event to their members & encouraging visits to Salts Mill. The TCoE team were present to raise the profile of their 'diagnostic' tool which contributes to skills benchmarking across the sector & will, in conjunction with their 'top team' workshops, inform development of future apprenticeship modules.

The event raised the profile of Future Fashion Factory, and the Creative Industries Clusters Programme, with senior figures in government, the third sector, the University of Leeds and a number of research bodies.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2019
URL https://futurefashionfactory.org/ukri-showcase-research/
 
Description Future Fashion Factory attendance at the MIT REAP Global Innovation Dinner (29th January 2020) 
Form Of Engagement Activity Participation in an activity, workshop or similar
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach Regional
Primary Audience Policymakers/politicians
Results and Impact Three members of the FFF core management team (Director/Co-Director/Programme Manager) attended this event along with a number of FFF industrial partners, notably from AW Hainsworth who hosted an Eco-Tour. The dinner itself included informative presentations from MIT organisers & was an extremely useful networking opportunity, we await the MIT reports with anticipation as they should lead onto further insights into how FFF can support the regional fashion & textile economy.

MIT REAP Team Leeds is thrilled to be part of the MIT Regional Entrepreneurship Acceleration Program (MIT REAP). MIT REAP engages regions around the world in an evidence-based, practical approach to strengthening innovation-driven entrepreneurial (IDE) ecosystems. Team Leeds is part of MIT REAP Cohort 6, a diverse network of regions representing Campania, Italy; Central Denmark; Guayaquil, Ecuador; Kentucky, U.S.A; Monterrey, Mexico; Oslo, Norway; and Sydney, Australia. In January 2020, Team Leeds will host Cohort 6 along with MIT Sloan School of Management faculty at the annual MIT REAP Strategy and Action Workshop. This gathering will bring entrepreneurs, risk
capital, corporate, university, and government stakeholders together to identify their unique comparative advantages and accelerate their regional ecosystems forward. As part of this program, Team Leeds strives to develop Leeds City Region into a globally recognized ecosystem of innovation-driven entrepreneurship.
A highlight of this workshop, the Global Innovation Dinner provides an opportunity for ecosystem leaders in Leeds to engage with the MIT REAP Cohort 6 teams, MIT faculty, and key stakeholders in the Leeds innovation and entrepreneurship community. It promises to be a truly global evening!
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2020
URL https://mitreapleedscityregion.com/
 
Description Future Fashion Factory briefing event 
Form Of Engagement Activity Participation in an activity, workshop or similar
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach National
Primary Audience Industry/Business
Results and Impact 38 industry and academic partners attended this seminar at the Textile Centre of Excellence to formally introduce the Future Fashion Factory Programme and set out its governance, objectives, and potential outcomes. Talks on the Programme's structure were complemented by the views of industry partners, who shared what they hoped to achieve through Future Fashion Factory. Leeds Institute for Data Analytics (LIDA) also presented on the potential of data analytics to increase competitiveness in the fashion industry. Questions and answers followed and positive levels of engagement from industry and academic partners were reported after the event.

Catalysing engagement with the Future Fashion Factory Programme among core industrial partners at the beginning of the funded period, as well as facilitating networking and the consolidation of relationships between industry and academic partners on the Programme. Attendees left with a clearer picture of the Programme's objectives and the needs and drivers of industry partners.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2018
 
Description Future Fashion Factory exhibition at UKRI Delivery Plan Event 
Form Of Engagement Activity Participation in an open day or visit at my research institution
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach National
Primary Audience Professional Practitioners
Results and Impact Future Fashion Factory exhibition within the UKRI event
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2019
 
Description Future Fashion Factory presentation (Leeds Fashion Network) 
Form Of Engagement Activity Participation in an activity, workshop or similar
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach Local
Primary Audience Undergraduate students
Results and Impact Invited presentation to UG and PG students about the R&D programme of the Future Fashion Factory
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2019
 
Description Future Fashion Factory, Designer Drop-Ins. 2 informal networking sessions. 
Form Of Engagement Activity Participation in an activity, workshop or similar
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach National
Primary Audience Professional Practitioners
Results and Impact 2 events, Wednesday 15th September & Wednesday 10th November 2021. 10 participants.
Relaxed, informal drop-in sessions aimed at meeting a need among FFF fashion designer members for networking, socialising and peer support.
Feedback was positive from the attendees at these pilot sessions. FFF is now considering ways to refine the format and how it could feed into future work.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2021
 
Description Future Textiles Conference (28th February - 2nd March 2023) Keynote presentation 
Form Of Engagement Activity A talk or presentation
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach International
Primary Audience Professional Practitioners
Results and Impact The global textile industry is also often cited as the second most polluting industry after oil, responsible for ~8-10% of global CO2 emission, ~20% water pollution and ~35% microplastic pollution. Therefore, radical new approaches are needed at both material and manufacturing level to transform textiles into highly innovative, sustainable, and intelligent clothing. This conference provided a forum for collaborative discussions to address these challenges at both academic and industry level, to develop future clothing for the next generation and facilitate the rapid transition of such textiles from lab to market. An in-person and virtual three-day conference.
I was a Keynote presenter at the event, 'Product Innovation with Textiles, the Fundamentals and the Scope'
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2023
URL https://cfpr.uwe.ac.uk/future-textiles-conference/
 
Description Futurescan 5: Conscious Communities 
Form Of Engagement Activity Participation in an activity, workshop or similar
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach National
Primary Audience Industry/Business
Results and Impact Forming a key part of the organizational committee - which alongside the University of Leeds consisted of representatives from Central Saint Martin's, Westminster University, Chelsea School of Arts, De Montfort University, and the Glasgow School of Art - Future Fashion Factory not only participated in the conference's schedule of activities, but the essential planning and logistics behind it.

As the conference was hybrid in nature, it catered to both an in-person and digital audience, ensuring both a local and international reach through its online registrants. By the same token, the hybrid nature of the conference also enabled an international cohort of panellists. For example, during the keynote session titled, 'Conscious Collaborations: Honouring Creative Crafts, Culture and Heritage' designer and philanthropist, Avis Charles was in virtual discussion with Varsha Mahendra, a fashion designer and entrepreneur who was speaking live from India. Together, they discussed the craftsmanship of traditional crafts and their potential in terms of products with provenance for a socially and environmentally aware audience as a means of empowering the artisans and improving lives.

Critical to the conference was an exhibition area, which encouraged interaction between exhibits and attendees. Within the exhibition area was a display entitled 'Designing a Circular Design Model for the Luxury Fashion Industry using a Zero- Waste Design Approach,' a project led by Future Fashion Factory Co-Investigator, Professor Parikshit Goswami along-side Debbie Moorhouse and Rina Arya, each from the Future Fashion Factory partner institution - The University of Huddersfield.

The conference also hosted a series of lectures, pertaining to the themes of 'Environmental + Resilient Communities,' 'Collaborative + Participatory Communities,' 'Cultural + Ethical Communities,' 'Societal + Political Communities,' 'Technological + Material Communities.' Led by Future Fashion Factory Co-Investigator, Professor Kevin Almond, alongside University of Leeds Senior Teaching Fellow and Secretary of the Yorkshire Fashion Archive Executive Committee, Elaine Evans, was one such lecture, titled, 'Made in Yorkshire; the commercial manufacture of everyday womenswear between 1945 and 1989. Future Fashion Factory led on a further lecture, this time with a more digital as opposed to regional focus, titled 'Providing Insights into Fashion Market Using Data from Twitter,' which was delivered by Dr Boshuo Guo, Lecturer of Digital Fashion Marketing at The University of Leeds, Leeds, United Kingdom

Following the conference, a publication is in production, featuring full papers, short papers and exhibitor reports from contributors to the conference. We also received multiple follow-up enquiries following our presence at the conference, which has laid ground for potential future collaborations and requests to join the Future Fashion Factory membership.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2022
URL https://futurefashionfactory.org/event/futurescan-5-conscious-communities/
 
Description Getting Started in Fashion. FFF organised workshop event (webinar/panel discussion) 
Form Of Engagement Activity A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach National
Primary Audience Undergraduate students
Results and Impact Wednesday 17th March 2021. 40 attendees.
A panel of FFF members including Paul Alger (UKFT), Jan Miller, and designers Cunnington & Sanderson contributed to this question and answer session for students and aspiring designers aiming to set up their own fashion brands. The event was developed in partnership with the ICE Programme (innovative Creative Edge) at the University of Huddersfield. Around 40 people joined on Youtube Live.
ICE+ is an interdisciplinary enterprise and employability initiative providing opportunities for students at all study levels, to engage in real-world challenges, posed by external businesses.
In addition to raising the profile of FFF and its speakers, the event attracted positive feedback from attendees who explained that they felt reassured and encouraged about the prospects for their careers in a time of pandemic disruption.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2021
URL https://futurefashionfactory.org/event/getting-started-in-fashion-qa/
 
Description Global Expert Mission on Fashion Tech & Sustainability to New York City 
Form Of Engagement Activity A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach International
Primary Audience Industry/Business
Results and Impact To gather market insights and to build expert foresight on new and emerging innovation sectors, in order to ascertain quantifiable benefits and synergistic strengths between the UK and a Partner Country.2.To build a portfolio of technological and business priorities as the foundation that elevates the UK as the "partner of choice" in future innovation partnerships with strategic global economies.3.To explore and identify effective and sustainable collaboration model(s) with a Partner Country in specific growing sectors.4.To set up the groundwork and early dialogues for the UK business community to catalyse future internationalisation opportunities. 5.To help align innovation policy direction and unlock regulatory barriers for future international partnerships.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2019
 
Description Global Expert Mission to Paris on Sustainable Innovation in Fashion -France (and wider Europe) 
Form Of Engagement Activity A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach International
Primary Audience Industry/Business
Results and Impact Innovate UK, global expert mission:
Gather market insights and to build expert foresights on new and emerging innovation sectors, ascertaining quantifiable benefits and synergies between the UK and Partner Countries in accessing/creating commercial opportunities.2)Build a portfolio of technological and business priorities as the foundation to elevates the UK as the "Partner of Choice" in resilient and successful bilateral/multilateral partnerships with strategic global economies.3)Explore and identify effective and sustainable international collaboration model(s).4)Set groundwork for early dialogues between key stakeholders and business community to catalyse future internationalisation opportunities. 5)Align innovation policy direction and unlock regulatory barriers for future international partnerships.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2020
 
Description Global Expert Mission: Fashion Tech in New York - trade and fact-finding mission with InnovateUK (28 October - 1 November 2019) 
Form Of Engagement Activity A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach International
Primary Audience Industry/Business
Results and Impact FFF Programme Director Professor Stephen Russell was among the experts from the business and research communities to meet with stakeholders such as fashion designers, trade organisations, companies, retailers and local government in New York City. The delegates' objectives were to explore sustainable fashion innovations in the US, identify knowledge and innovation gaps, and explore the possibilities for collaboration in sustainable fashion initiatives. Professor Russell found the visit extremely useful and is now seeking ways to translate learning into the context of the UK Fashion & Textiles sector.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2019
 
Description Global Fashion Marketplace - Clubhouse Fashion Innovation Challenge follow-on event 
Form Of Engagement Activity A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach National
Primary Audience Professional Practitioners
Results and Impact GFMP invited students who had presented their work to FFF industry partners down to London to give a talk about their suggested solutions at the beginning of a Clubhouse Fashion event (15th February 2020).
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2020
URL https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O_P7_Zw3NMM&list=PLHJeyDPlBi6cxTRs1HvIHOgUPXc7zypD7
 
Description Green Friday Debate 
Form Of Engagement Activity A talk or presentation
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach National
Primary Audience Public/other audiences
Results and Impact Panellist for the Green Friday debate on Boycotting Fashion in London.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2019
 
Description How to Get Started in Fashion with No Money - a public talk and discussion with Russell Hammond (The Scaphan Network) (23 October 2019, University of Leeds 14:00-16:00) 
Form Of Engagement Activity A talk or presentation
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach Regional
Primary Audience Undergraduate students
Results and Impact This talk provided practical tips and insight into starting a fashion business from scratch. Some 30 guests attended the talk including fashion design students from universities and local colleges, as well as professionals looking to start their own fashion design labels. A further 20 people signed up to the Future Fashion Factory mailing list following this event to receive information about further opportunities.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2019
URL https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/how-to-get-started-in-fashion-with-no-money-tickets-71649757353
 
Description How to use Artificial Intelligence in Textile and Fashion Businesses to Increase Competitiveness 
Form Of Engagement Activity A talk or presentation
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach National
Primary Audience Industry/Business
Results and Impact Seminar for industry partners with speakers Jez Bassinder (IBM), Prof Ningtao Mao (University of Leeds), and Bill Macbeth (Textile Centre of Excellence) on the potential for AI to increase competitiveness in the UK fashion industry. This related closely to Future Fashion Factory's Core Research Theme of Data-Driven Design and helped to draw attention and spark engagement with this research. Feedback on the event was extremely positive and several attendees have since submitted applications to FFF Responsive R&D funding calls while even more have joined the FFF membership network.

Driving engagement with Future Fashion Factory core research and generating new membership enquiries, while raising the profile of the FFF programme within the fashion and textile industry.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2019
 
Description Huddersfield Daily Examiner: Woven festival will look forward as well as back 
Form Of Engagement Activity A magazine, newsletter or online publication
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach Local
Primary Audience Public/other audiences
Results and Impact Woven: A week-long festival celebrating Kirklees' textile heritage and looking ahead to the industry's digital future. Aiming to bring together the local community to take pride in its textile heritage and celebrate its future opportunities for careers , creativity and innovation. Businesses, families and local schools are encouraged to get involved.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2019
URL https://www.pressreader.com/uk/huddersfield-daily-examiner/20190425/282166472591046
 
Description Huddersfield Textile Society: Lecture by Prof. Stephen Westland. Colour, Light and Health (10th February 2020, 18:30-20:30) 
Form Of Engagement Activity A talk or presentation
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach Regional
Primary Audience Industry/Business
Results and Impact Professor Stephen Westland at the University of Leeds, who leads Future Fashion Factory's core research theme in data-driven design, will present this talk at Huddersfield Textile Society.
Colour is ubiquitous in the world and is important in design and manufacturing. However, this talk will explore the non-visual effects of colour and light, particularly around the theme of health - including the health risks of being exposed to too much or too little light, the effect of light on sleep and the importance of sleep to our health, and the relationship between physiological and psychological effects of colour.
The talk has implications for the use of colour LED lighting, the use of which is increasing rapidly as a result of technological, sociological and legislative changes.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2020
URL http://www.huddersfieldtextilesociety.org.uk/events
 
Description ISDAR workshop - 2019. 2-5 September. Discourse. Workshops. International Association of Societies of Design Research Conference. Manchester, UK. 
Form Of Engagement Activity Participation in an activity, workshop or similar
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach International
Primary Audience Professional Practitioners
Results and Impact Workshops to test Discourse as a tool for debate to further develop Fashion Thinking methods. The conference track theme in relation to this paper is Disruption & Innovation - Academia & Industry. In facilitating discussion on the disrupting factors facing the fashion industry, we aim to show how we are identifying opportunities to ease and expedite a transition from the now to the new in an understanding of fashion design education and practice. Exploring how an active integration of academia and industry at masters level can provide an alternative to an otherwise one-sided offering which only looks to support design talent to become sole practitioners. This research paper provides an analysis of a workshop developed by the authoring researchers Chelsea Franklin, Susan Postlethwaite and Kat Thiel, alongside their contextual findings. The workshop uses a tool for debate, Discourse, designed by Chelsea Franklin while she was an MA fashion student at the Royal College of Art. The tool was developed as a response to, and recognition of, the struggle of working as a siloed, sole-practitioner/ designer within education whilst understanding that the industry is built of complex supply chains and networks of individuals. The work has emerged from a new fashion pedagogic model that aims to produce a multidisciplinary fashion student/ researcher/ designer. We will share the first results of this on going research which is currently being developed in tandem with the RCA MA Fashion course, encouraging students' to engage intellectually with their discipline and to question and hold to account new industrial models. This research is part of a larger body of work currently being developed through Future Fashion Factory: Digitally Enabled Design & Manufacture of Designer Products for Circular Economies AHRC funded research. Through this work RCA Fashion researchers propose to define a new methodological approach, Fashion Thinking that has three distinct strands - Fashion Thinking for Social Change, Fashion Thinking for Applied Speculation and Fashion Thinking through Advanced Manufacturing. Discourse engages with all three of these areas.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2019
URL https://iasdr2019.org/uploads/files/IASDR-Schedule-Supplement-Spread.pd
 
Description ISPO - SPO Munich - Dr Mark Taylor 
Form Of Engagement Activity A talk or presentation
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach International
Primary Audience Policymakers/politicians
Results and Impact Participation at ISPO Munich Conference November 2022 to accelerate the global evolution of sports wear.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2022
 
Description ITMA 2023 Exhibition 
Form Of Engagement Activity Participation in an activity, workshop or similar
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach International
Primary Audience Industry/Business
Results and Impact Attendance at ITMA 2023 exhibition and the Sentire system launch by Roaches (developed with FFF research support).
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2023
URL https://www.roaches.co.uk/spectacular-success-itma-2023-roaches/
 
Description Impacts of Brexit, COVID-19 and Climate Change at Textile Institute World Conference, Huddersfield (3rd-6th July 2023) 
Form Of Engagement Activity A talk or presentation
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach International
Primary Audience Other audiences
Results and Impact A state-of-play analysis to highlight many of the on-going issues faced by the UK fashion and textile industry, particularly those SMEs and micro businesses who make up over 80% of the industry. However, the report also highlights the resilience and adaptability of UK fashion and textile companies when faced with challenges such as Brexit and COVID-19.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2023
URL https://www.hud.ac.uk/about/schools/art-humanities/tiwc/
 
Description Industry Visit 
Form Of Engagement Activity A talk or presentation
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach Local
Primary Audience Industry/Business
Results and Impact Visit to Company to discuss industry-scale recycling/reuse R&D activities
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2022
 
Description Industry Visit 
Form Of Engagement Activity A talk or presentation
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach Local
Primary Audience Industry/Business
Results and Impact Industry visit to discuss mechanical recycling and Nonwovens
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2022
 
Description Informal presentation at Clothworkers' visit to the School of Design and LiTaC 
Form Of Engagement Activity A talk or presentation
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach Regional
Primary Audience Supporters
Results and Impact During the members of Clothworkers' visit to our school and the key labs in our school, I was chosen as one of the representatives for the colour research group and showcased one of our latest research work on developing an digital colour-blindness test for retailers such as Tesco where colour discrimination can be one of the criteria to some of their staff who are carrying out product examination work as their daily job. The feedback from the visitors was very positive.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2022
 
Description Innovation Meets Fashion - start of British Science Week organised by BEIS 
Form Of Engagement Activity Engagement focused website, blog or social media channel
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach International
Primary Audience Public/other audiences
Results and Impact Recorded video piece on FFF research activities organised by BEIS to promote beginning of British Science Week
see: https://twitter.com/beisgovuk/status/1502178483543457792
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2022
 
Description Innovation Thinking and Practice - industry partners setting practical challenges for student innovation module. Oct-Dec 2019 (final event 5 December 2019 3-5pm) 
Form Of Engagement Activity Participation in an activity, workshop or similar
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach Regional
Primary Audience Industry/Business
Results and Impact Three FFF industry partners set challenges relevant to their businesses for students in Leeds University Business School as part of this undergraduate degree module. These were: Camira Fabrics, Global Fashion Marketplace and Joshua Ellis. The students developed solutions to the challenges and pitched them to a judging panel, including a representative of each industry partner and a member of the core Future Fashion Factory team, at the end-of-module pitch session. Final presentations were held over two days and the FFF Director & Programme Manager each attended a session. One industry partner has requested to follow up with the students about their pitch as a result of this module.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2019
URL https://leedsforlife.leeds.ac.uk/Broadening/Module/LUBS2065
 
Description Inside Future Fashion Factory: Data-Driven Design 
Form Of Engagement Activity Participation in an activity, workshop or similar
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach National
Primary Audience Industry/Business
Results and Impact Whether combating over-production, providing new tools for fashion designers or optimising low-waste manufacturing, data-driven design will play an important role in producing the right product for the right customer at the right time - and doing so sustainably and profitably.

Professor Stephen Westland (University of Leeds), who leads Future Fashion Factory's data-driven design research, chaired this webinar with a deep dive into how AI, machine learning and big data techniques are being developed and expanded across the Programme.

As a result of the online webinar, we were able to raise the profile of one of our core research themes amongst our members, which was reflected in the discussion and Q&A portion. We also received enquiries regarding recordings of the session, as well as potential further areas of collaboration on the topic.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2022
URL https://futurefashionfactory.org/event/inside-future-fashion-factory-data-driven-design/
 
Description Inside Future Fashion Factory: Digital Communication of Aesthetics 
Form Of Engagement Activity Participation in an activity, workshop or similar
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach National
Primary Audience Industry/Business
Results and Impact Some properties of fabrics and garments, such as handle, drape and fit, are difficult to communicate objectively. As a result, fabric swatches and sample garments are transported around fashion supply chains, while customers often return products purchased online.

Chaired by Professor Ningtao Mao, who leads Future Fashion Factory's research in the communication of aesthetics, this webinar explored the digital tools being created to accurately convey information about how fabrics look and feel.

See some of these new technologies in action and find out how they can help to shorten product lead times, cut carbon emissions and reduce waste in fashion design and manufacturing.

As a result of the online webinar, we were able to raise the profile of one of our core research themes amongst our members - notably, we received feedback that a number of businesses sought membership specifically to attend this webinar. As such, we made the effort to follow-up with these new members, ensuring they'd be engaged with FFF going forward, both in terms of future events and alternative member-collaboration opportunities.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2022
URL https://futurefashionfactory.org/event/inside-future-fashion-factory-digital-communication-aesthetic...
 
Description Inside Future Fashion Factory: Late-Stage Customisation 
Form Of Engagement Activity A magazine, newsletter or online publication
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach National
Primary Audience Industry/Business
Results and Impact As demand grows among consumers for more personalised products and experiences, the fashion and textile industry is exploring digital and new textile technologies to design and produce designer-led, small volume, customised products - all while cutting lead times and waste.

Professor Parik Goswami (University of Huddersfield), leader of Future Fashion Factory's research in late-stage customisation, will chair this webinar exploring some of the groundbreaking work taking place across the Programme.

From dyeing and finishing to new weaving technologies and make-on-demand production models, find out how researchers are paving the way for a more agile, intelligent and sustainable fashion and textile industry.

As a result of the online webinar, we were able to raise the profile of one of our core research themes amongst our members, which was reflected in the discussion and Q&A portion. We also received enquiries regarding recordings of the session, as well as potential further areas of collaboration on the topic.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2022
URL https://futurefashionfactory.org/event/inside-future-fashion-factory-late-stage-customisation/
 
Description Inside Future Fashion Factory: Skills 
Form Of Engagement Activity A talk or presentation
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach National
Primary Audience Industry/Business
Results and Impact The fashion industry is changing rapidly. Industry 4.0, digital design tools, the impact of the pandemic, and widening skills gaps in key sectors are all placing new demands on education and training providers.

Dr Kevin Almond (University of Leeds) and Bill Macbeth OBE (Textile Centre of Excellence) lead Future Fashion Factory's research in training and skills for the future. In this webinar, they shared some of the ways in which fashion and textiles education has changed in recent years, along with some of the findings from their work so far.

The session was an opportunity for attendees to hear about the responses from industry so far, as well as a guided look at the new courses and opportunities that have become available as a result. Kevin and Bill also led a discussion about the skills that fashion and textile professionals need to drive future growth across the UK fashion industry. As a result, we gauged interest and input amongst delegates about how they themselves would like to see change across an industry-wide scale. As a result of these findings, we are currently scoping ways to include a skills-based training and collaboration in our upcoming dissemination activity.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2022
URL https://futurefashionfactory.org/event/inside-future-fashion-factory-skills/
 
Description Inside Future Fashion Factory: Sustainability - a Roundtable Webinar 
Form Of Engagement Activity A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach National
Primary Audience Professional Practitioners
Results and Impact Future Fashion Factory hosted the final of its Core Research Theme Webinars, centred on Sustainability and Circularity. This took the form of an online roundtable discussion, exploring how Future Fashion Factory funded R&D projects have supported design-led innovations within industry and academia by examining how their processes, materials and tooling have supported the UK Fashion sectors' development of sustainability practices. The webinar was delivered by our partners at Royal College of Arts and The Manchester Fashion Institute, and included a roundtable of industrial partners, including delegates from Weffan, Osmose Studio and Cargo Collective. This panel was very well attended, garnering much praise from attendees. As we made the event open to the public, we had many attendees seek FFF membership as well as a recording of the panel to share amongst their own workplace as inspiration/actionable examples in aid of becoming more sustainable.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2023
URL https://futurefashionfactory.org/event/inside-future-fashion-factory-sustainability/
 
Description Inside Future Fashion Factory: Sustainability - a Roundtable Webinar 
Form Of Engagement Activity Participation in an activity, workshop or similar
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach National
Primary Audience Public/other audiences
Results and Impact Future Fashion Factory hosted the final of its Core Research Theme Webinars, centred on Sustainability and Circularity. This took the form of an online roundtable discussion, exploring how Future Fashion Factory funded R&D projects have supported design-led innovations within industry and academia by examining how their processes, materials and tooling have supported the UK Fashion sectors' development of sustainability practices. The webinar was delivered by our partners at Royal College of Arts and The Manchester Fashion Institute, and included a roundtable of industrial partners, including delegates from Weffan, Osmose Studio and Cargo Collective.

This panel was very well attended, garnering much praise from attendees. As we made the event open to the public, we had many attendees seek FFF membership as well as a recording of the panel to share amongst their own workplace as inspiration/actionable examples in aid of becoming more sustainable.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2022
URL https://futurefashionfactory.org/event/inside-future-fashion-factory-sustainability/
 
Description Inspiring Change: International Conference on Textiles (18th September 2020) 
Form Of Engagement Activity A talk or presentation
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach International
Primary Audience Other audiences
Results and Impact A one-day conference exploring emerging issues and exciting innovative ideas to support the growth of the textile industry. Speakers include representatives from Cotton Council USA, Matrix Sourcing, Better Cotton Initiative and many more.

Sue Rainton, Future Fashion Factory Programme Manager, will give a presentation on the Programme's innovation projects and working with businesses to develop industry-led research and development (R&D).
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2020
URL https://futurefashionfactory.org/event/inspiring-change-international-conference-on-textiles/
 
Description Interview - Circular Fashion Ecosystem -3Keel/British Fashion Council 
Form Of Engagement Activity A press release, press conference or response to a media enquiry/interview
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach National
Primary Audience Industry/Business
Results and Impact Consultation on the Circular Fashion Ecosystem commissioned by the British Fashion Council
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2021
URL https://instituteofpositivefashion.com/uploads/files/1/CFE/Circular_Fashion_Ecosytem_Report.pdf
 
Description Interview with Prof. Parik Goswami, engagement activity for the Technical Textiles Research Centre (published 6th February 2023) 
Form Of Engagement Activity A press release, press conference or response to a media enquiry/interview
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach International
Primary Audience Public/other audiences
Results and Impact An interview with Prof. Parik Goswami, FFF Co-I, on the Technical Textiles Research Centre (TTRC) at the University of Huddersfield. The TTRC is a key element in legacy planning for the FFF programme.
The Technical Textiles Research Centre at the University of Huddersfield aims to re-establish the town and region as a world leader in textiles by harnessing the newest technology and manufacturing techniques. The focus of the centre is on high-performance technical textiles that are bespoke and of high quality. The centre brings together expertise in disparate fields of science, including technical textiles, engineering, digital technology, textile processing, cellulose science, medical textiles (implantable, non-implantable, healthcare environment materials), fibre and polymer chemistry, pharmacology, surface functionalisation and material science. In an Interview with TechnicalTextile.net, Director at the centre and Professor in Technical Textiles Parikshit Goswami discusses innovations, applications and challenges in technical textiles.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2023
URL https://www.technicaltextile.net/interviews/university-of-huddersfield/parikshit-goswami/13508-1/
 
Description Interviewed by BBC (Chris Baranuik) for BBC Earth article "Will Fashion Firms Stop Burning Clothes" 
Form Of Engagement Activity A press release, press conference or response to a media enquiry/interview
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach International
Primary Audience Public/other audiences
Results and Impact interviewed for a BBC Earth report about postindustrial clothing waste and the issue about burning excess stock and alternative strategies
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2019
URL https://www.bbcearth.com/blog/?article=%20will-fashion-firms-stop-burning-clothes
 
Description Introduction to Intellectual Property. FFF organised webinar/workshop. 
Form Of Engagement Activity A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach National
Primary Audience Industry/Business
Results and Impact Thursday 14th October 2021. 24 attendees.
Andrew Bravin, who collaborated on FFF's Responsive R&D project with Lockwood Publishing, continued his relationship with FFF by leading a workshop aimed at fashion designers introducing the principles of IP and how it can be protected.
This event was planned in response to a need for support on wider business and marketing skills expressed by micro and SME members of the FFF network. Attendees reported that this need had been met and feedback was very positive.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2021
URL https://youtu.be/Wa1a7xhEDT4
 
Description Invitation to take part in an expert panel 
Form Of Engagement Activity A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach National
Primary Audience Industry/Business
Results and Impact I was invited to take part in a panel discussion (1 December 2021 & 22 February 2022) with Sanderson Design group in connection to the Harlequin brand.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2022
URL https://sanderson.sandersondesigngroup.com/
 
Description Invite talk in School of Computer Science, Wuhan Textile University, China 
Form Of Engagement Activity A talk or presentation
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach International
Primary Audience Postgraduate students
Results and Impact A invite talk is given to School of Computer Science, Wuhan Textile University. More than 100 attendees. There were questions and discussion afterwards.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2023
 
Description Invite talk to OPPO annual colour seminar 
Form Of Engagement Activity A talk or presentation
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach International
Primary Audience Industry/Business
Results and Impact Invited talk for facial appearance measurement to research scientist of OPPO Corp. About 200 research scientist were attended the seminar.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2022
 
Description Invite talk to R&D in Estee Lauder 
Form Of Engagement Activity A talk or presentation
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach International
Primary Audience Industry/Business
Results and Impact A invited talk is given to globe research scientist in Estee Lauder R&D. More than 100 research scientist were attended,
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2021
 
Description Invited Lecture : A Green Interface-Modification Route for Improving Mechanical and Dynamic Mechanical Properties of Glass Fibre Composites (Next Generation Composite Matrix Materials Conference, 22 nd May, Manchester) 
Form Of Engagement Activity A talk or presentation
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach National
Primary Audience Industry/Business
Results and Impact This invited lecture presents the processing and properties of hierarchical textile composites developed using microcrystalline cellulose. The lecture attracted a number of composite manufacturers who are interested to develop this technology at a commercial scale.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2019
URL https://www.rsc.org/events/detail/37937/next-generation-composite-matrix-materials-conference
 
Description Invited Lecture on "Advances in Research and Innovation for Developing Sustainable Technical Textile Products" in A Two Day International Seminar on Sustainability in Apparels and Textiles, 3-4 August, PSG Collge of Technology, India. 
Form Of Engagement Activity A talk or presentation
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach International
Primary Audience Postgraduate students
Results and Impact The purpose of this lecture was to provide an overview on current research and developments that are taking place in the area of sustainable technical textiles. Various topics such as bio-based textiles, nano-functionalised textiles, advanced and smart textile structures, value addition and utilization of natural fibres, etc. were discussed. The lecture could generate significant interest on sustainable textiles among undergraduate and postgraduate students, academics and industry professionals, who expressed their strong interest to collaborate in future.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2020
 
Description Invited Lecture: Advanced nonwoven composites for meeting industrial needs (ITMA-EDANA Nonwovens Forum, 21 June, 2019, Barcelona, Spain) 
Form Of Engagement Activity A talk or presentation
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach International
Primary Audience Industry/Business
Results and Impact The delivered invited lecture covered the following topics:
• Latest developments in the micro and nanofiber based nonwoven composites
• Hybrid and 3D nonwoven composites
• Auxetic, smart and sustainable nonwoven composites
• Current and future industrial applications

This talk generated lots of interest among the audience on the functional nonwoven textiles. A few industry representatives contacted afterwards to know more about the presented technology and showed interest to collaborate in this area.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2019
URL https://www.itma.com/highlights/conferences/itma-edana-nonwovens-forum
 
Description Invited Panel Discussion on Sustainability in Fashion 
Form Of Engagement Activity Participation in an activity, workshop or similar
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach International
Primary Audience Industry/Business
Results and Impact Invited panel discussion on sustainability in fashion in London, with representatives from SHEIN (inc. meeting with global head of ESG) and WRAP.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2023
 
Description Invited Panel Member at Beyond Conference; Warp & Weft: Weaving Sustainable Places Session 
Form Of Engagement Activity A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach International
Primary Audience Industry/Business
Results and Impact Dr Dawn Ellams was invited to the Beyond Conference (19 - 22 October, Belfast & online) as a panel member to discuss sustainability in Fashion & Textiles linking the importance of creative places to the work of Future Fashion Factory industry led R&D projects during the session; Warp & Weft: Weaving Sustainable Places

BEYOND is an annual conference for thinkers, makers, investors and researchers across the creative industries to come together to explore the relationship between creative research and business innovation. A unique, annual gathering of current and future innovators focused on Research and Development across the Creative Industries.

BEYOND 2021 took the theme of place to look at how the Creative Industries are forming the heart of new vibrant cultural and creative economies. The 4th conference explored the role of creativity and creative tech in forming and navigating new places. BEYOND 2021 was a hybrid conference in partnership with Future Screens NI and supported by Belfast City Council and Matrix NI, offering live and catch-up sessions online or in person.


Titanic Belfast, BEYOND venue for 2021

A lively two day programme of 60+ expert speakers, with keynotes, panel discussions, think pieces and provocations, Q&As and a showcase of leading projects and research.

Stay tuned to the BEYOND newsletter for updates on the on demand sessions from the latest conference and keep your eyes peeled on @BeyondCnf for all BEYOND news.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2021
URL https://beyondconference.org/#beyond2021
 
Description Invited Presentation, Burberry Christmas Town Hall, Burberry Business Services 
Form Of Engagement Activity A talk or presentation
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach National
Primary Audience Industry/Business
Results and Impact Invited presentation on Future Fashion Factory R&D activities to Burberry staff.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2018
 
Description Invited Talk on "Innovative Textile Structures for Technical Textiles Applications" in International conference on Advances in Technical Textiles (ICATT-2020), 24-25 October, 2020 (Online) 
Form Of Engagement Activity A talk or presentation
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach International
Primary Audience Postgraduate students
Results and Impact This lecture was focused on the advanced textile structures for a wide range of applications in the technical textile industry and covered various topics including high performance auxetic textiles, artificial braided stents, artificial ligaments based on braided structures and electrically conductive textile structures. This lecture generated significant interest in the audience on these various advanced materials based on textiles.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2020
 
Description Invited talk at a conference in Thailand 
Form Of Engagement