Celebrating the successful delivery of over 50 collaborative research and development projects designed to accelerate innovation and sustainable development in the UK fashion and textile industry, Future Fashion Factory (FFF) is holding an in-person showcase at Nexus in Leeds city centre on June 30^th.

Highlighting innovation across FFF’s industry network, the showcase will present new developments in sustainable materials and processes, digitalisation, product design and circular economies which have so far resulted from the five-year, £5.6 million industry-led collaborative R&D programme.

The event will bring together businesses, policymakers, academics and researchers from across the fashion, textile and digital industries to explore new capabilities and opportunities. Delegates will gain in-depth insights into the ways FFF innovators have been able to spearhead improvements in business competitiveness and sustainability and enable circular economies through industry-led collaborative R&D.

Speakers on the day include Tom Riordan CBE, chief executive of Leeds City Council, and speakers from the British Fashion Council, the UK Fashion and Textiles Association and Innovate UK, as well as innovators from many fashion and textile companies.

Clusters

Among the FFF’s central themes are 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 addressing major skills gaps.

“Future Fashion Factory supports creativity and innovation at every stage of the supply chain, bringing academics and companies together in collaboration,” said Professor Stephen Russell, director of the Future Fashion Factory. “Our showcase is an unparalleled opportunity to see the results of many of the projects that contribute to the UK’s goals of achieving net zero and creating economic opportunities by supporting the sustainable growth of design and manufacturing in the UK.”

“FFF’s collaborative R&D programme, has supported business growth and competitiveness across the Leeds City Region’s internationally renowned fashion and textile industry and is playing a major role in meeting our sustainable development goals, through highly creative, industry-led innovation,” added Tom Riordan. “We look forward to building further on what has been a unique opportunity for Leeds."

For more information, please contact Giorgio Grande, Future Fashion Factory communications and digital engagement officer at [email protected].

www.futurefashionfactory.org