Praise for focus on sustainability

UNIVERSITY’S TEACHING OF FASHION IS COMMENDED

A FOCUS on sustainable fashion has earned De Montfort University global recognition.

The School of Fashion and Textiles was highly commended in the International Green Gown Awards.

Judges praised the way in which the university had put sustainability at the heart of its curriculum and teaching, ensuring students gain a thorough understanding of the environmental issues facing the industry and the positive impact they, as the next generation of designers, makers and artists, could have.

Carolyn Hardaker, head of the School of Fashion and Textiles, said: “I am delighted the school has achieved global recognition by being highly commended at the international Green Gown Awards.

“The Next Generation Learning and Skills is such an important category and the work the school is undertaking empowers our students with the potential to make a real impact in the industry.”

De Montfort won the UK’s Green Gowns Trophy earlier this year.

A spokeswoman said the School of Fashion and Textiles, which has 1,200 students, recognised the fashion industry needs seismic change to tackle challenges such as fast fashion, synthetic materials that take decades to decompose and unethical supply chains.

Students are set creative briefs from industry that focus on sustainability and the principles of recycling and reuse. The number of outfits produced for final collection has been reduced from six to two, cutting the environmental impact.

A £30,000 fund has been created which offers small grants to help students researching projects that focus on sustainable fashion.

So far more than 100 students have been given money towards ideas including zero-waste pattern cutting and leather alternatives.

Research into sustainable textile design and manufacturing processes, circular fashion and the slow fashion movement aim to find an alternative to throwaway culture.

Fiona Goodwin, of EAUC, which runs the Green Gown Awards, said: “We hope that universities and colleges from all around the world will take inspiration from the winners’ example and raise the bar on climate action.”