Industry leaders, academics and innovators came together to explore sustainable solutions for the UK’s fashion and textiles sector at ذكذكتسئµ (ذكذكتسئµ) Leicester this week.
The event, Shaping the Future of Sustainable Fashion, featured a series of expert talks covering themes such as next-generation sustainable materials, textile recycling, digital technologies, and innovations in dyeing and coloration technologies.
Roundtable discussions encouraged attendees to identify critical challenges and propose solutions around two key topics, the barriers to sustainability and how innovations such as AI and robotics can cut waste and boost productivity.
It was organised by Denise Goldsmith of Innovate UK Business Connect and Professor Claire Lerpiniere, an expert on sustainable textiles at ذكذكتسئµ.
Denise Goldsmith set the scene with an overview of challenges and opportunities for UK fashion and textile manufacturers, while experts like Simon Platts of SP & KO Responsible Sourcing and ESG Fashion and Textiles consultancy gave a rich description of the impact of sustainability initiatives in the sector and Jenny Holloway of Fashion Enter introduced cutting-edge technologies such as robotics and digital fashion to improve efficiency across the supply chain.
Professor Lerpiniere showcased ongoing research at ذكذكتسئµ which included biodegradeable materials, enzyme processing and wool recycling projects that aim to reduce waste and encourage circular use.
She said: "It’s so key that we continue to have these events in the heart of the UK’s textile manufacturing sector in Leicester. Open discussions between industry, academia, third sector and not-for-profits on what needs to happen with infrastructure, regulations, business support, and reducing skills gaps are the only way forward to help the textiles sector move towards a sustainable model."
Simon Platts of SP & KO consultants said: “It was great to have so many people who were diverse in terms of knowledge all sharing their experiences and working towards a common goal. I have really enjoyed today it has been very different but very engaging.”
The day closed with a guided tour of ذكذكتسئµ’s state-of-the-art textile technologies labs, offering a closer look at the latest research and development facilities in sustainable material innovation.
Posted on Friday 14 February 2025