Central Saint Martins partners with Miss Sixty to pave the future for circular denim

University of the Arts London (UAL) is delighted to announce a groundbreaking partnership between Central Saint Martins (CSM) and Trendy Group, a global leader in fashion innovation.

The partnership centres around the new Future Denim Lab – an ambitious five-year initiative dedicated to advancing circular denim and sustainable fashion. Developed in collaboration with Trendy Group’s iconic denim brand, Miss Sixty, Future Denim Lab will combine cutting-edge research and innovation with hands-on student involvement to reshape the denim industry toward a more circular and sustainable future.

The partnership was officially unveiled at an event held at Trendy Group’s Guangzhou headquarters on December 6 2024, bringing together alumni and industry leaders to celebrate the launch of Future Denim Lab.

Future Denim Lab will bring together a dedicated team of researchers at CSM, including a fully funded PhD studentship, to drive sustainable innovation in denim recovery, recycling and reuse. Using advanced technologies such as biotechnology, the team will explore new solutions for recycling both organic and synthetic materials.

Undergraduate and postgraduate students from a range of courses will collaborate with researchers and students on Future Denim Lab projects, gaining invaluable experience and providing interdisciplinary insights in sustainable design and research. To celebrate and encourage student innovation, two prestigious awards will also be introduced to recognise excellence in repurposing and reusing denim.

Since 2018, Trendy Group has been a key partner in supporting Central Saint Martins to provide a transformative learning environment. In 2019, in recognition of a generous donation, the College named its vibrant central walkway and meeting place The Trendy Group Street. Future Denim Lab builds on this foundation, expanding the partnership to develop a transformative initiative focused on enabling creativity to address global challenges and creating a more sustainable future for humans and non-humans on this planet.

Professor Rathna Ramanathan, Head of Central Saint Martins and Pro-Vice Chancellor of UAL, says: "At Central Saint Martins, we are “Regenerating Creativity”. Deepening our partnership with Trendy Group exemplifies our shared commitment to pushing the boundaries of sustainability and innovation. Through this collaboration with Miss Sixty, we will continue in our mission to expand the impact of the creative industries and to champion essential environmental change in this more-than-human world."

Jacky Xu, Founder and CEO of Trendy Group, said, "Our collaboration with Central Saint Martins on the Miss Sixty Future Denim Lab project is focused on researching sustainable fashion. We hope that the research outcomes will contribute to the global fashion industry's sustainable development, promoting a lasting symbiosis between fashion and nature.”

Through the Future Denim Lab, Miss Sixty and Central Saint Martins aim to set a new benchmark in fashion education and sustainability, ensuring the next generation of designers is equipped to create a circular, environmentally responsible industry.