Sustainability key to new University link with fashion and textiles industry

Professor Parik Goswami hopes to strengthen the links between the University of Huddersfield and the fashion and textile industry after becoming the first academic to be appointed to the board of the UK Fashion and Textile Association (UKFT).

Head of the Department of Fashion and Textiles and Director of the University’s Technical Textiles Research Centre (TTRC), Professor Goswami will help the UKFT to look at innovation, R&D and sustainability in the industry.

He is already on the advisory board of Textiles 2030 that is led by WRAP, a global NGO based in the UK that advises on improved use of natural resources in fashion and textiles.

“We want to associate ourselves with industrial organisations and initiatives like UKFT and Textiles 2030 so we can bring that knowledge to our students,” says Professor Goswami. “At the same time, we want to bring cutting-edge knowledge to the industry for the economic development of this important industry.

Giving students insight on the industry

“We want our students to know the theory of what we teach, but we also want them to understand the micro-environment they work with. That means understanding the challenges of working with the industry and what its future may be, so they can strategically learn what they need to work in the industry over the next few decades.

“I am delighted to join the board and I am looking forward to work with my colleagues in a meaningful way for the betterment of the UK fashion and textiles ecosystem. UKFT plays a very important role in this ecosystem, and we want our industries to have access to cutting-edge knowledge and a framework for commercialising state-of-art concepts and technology.”

UKFT works across a wide range of projects to help the UK industry take full advantage of these new technologies and markets and to help change the future landscape of the textile industry in the UK into one where circularity and environmentally sustainable supply chains are the new normal.

Most recently, UKFT has started working with IBM, Tech Data and the Future Fashion Factory to design, prototype and pilot a new technology platform to help the UK fashion and textile industry to drive sustainability and profitability through increased transparency within the supply chain. Retailers Next, H&M (COS brand), N Brown, New Look and yarn manufacturer Laxtons will be part of the initial pilot.

Huddersfield's textile heritage

The University’s alliance with UKFT also taps into the decades of tradition of the fashion and textile industry in and around Huddersfield.

“We have heritage but we know how to blend heritage with cutting edge so we are leading our industry rather than following it,” adds Professor Goswami.

Adam Mansell, CEO of UKFT, said: “We are delighted to welcome Professor Goswami to the UKFT board to strengthen our links with academia and help shape our work on innovation, R&D and sustainability.

“Parik brings a fantastic insight into the technical textile sector and has also been instrumental in driving forward the fashion and textile courses at Huddersfield.

“We believe these areas will be critical for the UK fashion and textile industry’s economic recovery and growth in the years to come.”

Main photo by Sergio Gonzalez on Unsplash