A new website has been launched to help ambitious fashion and textiles companies understand more about how university expertise can support them to innovate and grow.
De Montfort University Leicester (DMU)’s new Fashion and Textiles Business Hub showcases the university’s skills in textile testing, sustainable fashion and digital design.
Through the Hub, businesses can book a personalised tour of the faculty’s industry-standard facilities, meet technicians with a wealthy of industry experience and talk to academics at the cutting edge of textiles research. Visitors are also encouraged to book a 1:1 discovery session to help find out which service will suit their business’ innovation needs.
A programme of fashion-themed events and workshops for companies has been planned showcasing a mix of students work and industry events with partners such as UK Fashion and Textiles, Curve Theatre and the Worshipful Company of Leathersellers.
Associate Professor Gillian Proctor, who is the faculty’s enterprise lead, said: “We have a wealth of industry experience here at DMU which we are keen to share with companies.”
“Textiles and apparels companies are facing huge challenges with net zero emissions targets, supply chains, the need to minimise extraction of raw materials and reducing the amount of materials sent to landfill.”
“Responsible sourcing, adoptions of new technologies and how to produce fibres from materials that do not damage the planet, greenwashing, new product design – we’re here to help whether through innovation projects, consultancy or working with our students.”
DMU has been associated with the textiles industry, crafts, arts and design from its very beginnings as the Leicester School of Art in 1870.
Today it remains at forefront of work to tackle some of the fashion industry’s biggest challenges around environmental sustainability, textiles production, wearable tech and the circular economy.
The fashion industry is responsible for 8-10% of humanity’s carbon emissions – more than all international flights and maritime shipping combined. It uses huge amounts of water in producing materials, contributing to water scarcity in some regions.
Its researchers are currently focusing on the research to develop innovative eco-friendly textile processes and sustainable textile materials.
Businesses can also find out how to work more closely with DMU students through setting challenges throughout their studies. DMU has worked with brands such as Gymshark, Lounge and MODA who come to campus to meet students and set live briefs which form part of their assessments.
ask jas
Posted on Wednesday 10 May 2023