Report | Six UK and overseas small business partnerships in sustainable fashion, textiles and technology programme
- Written byKatie Moss
- Published date 10 January 2024
The latest report published by UAL Fashion, Textiles and Technology Institute (FTTI) in partnership with British Council, [PDF 6MB] shares the findings and impact from an ongoing research and development programme that drives international cooperation around ethically responsible and socially engaged fashion and textile design.
The second round of the New Landscapes: Fashion, Textiles and Technology (FTT) Catalyst R&D Grant Scheme, launched in 2022 brought together 6 UK fashion and textile small-to-medium enterprises (SMEs) and counterparts in Official Development Assistance (ODA) countries.
Supported by FTTI and British Council, participants received funding, specialist academic support and access to expertise to work on mutually beneficial projects spanning the UK, Indonesia, Bangladesh, India, Nigeria, Philippines, and Malaysia. By facilitating the provision of guidance and support, the scheme aids growth both within the UK and for international sustainable businesses working in collaboration with marginalised communities, and, in turn, promotes global prosperity at a sustainable level.
The report shares the practical outcomes of the programme, with 6 impact stories detailing the SME partnerships and their projects. These include development of a yarn made from recycled denim waste and regeneratively grown cotton in Indonesia, supporting education and reducing the skills gap around digital garment sampling in Bangladesh, creating an online platform for digital menders, development of a yarn made from water hyacinth – hazardous plant waste in Nigeria, and exploring the potential of food waste for dyeing in Malaysia.
In just five months, the scheme tested eight novel technologies and developed eighteen different product prototypes. The awardees created two permanent jobs within ODA countries and improved the livelihoods of 122 farmers and 21 rural harvesters while impacting 92 artisans through exposure to new networks. Additionally, 5 new business partnerships were created through the programme.
Read the report
The impact case studies
Gabrielle Shiner-Hill, London + Nusrat Mahmud, Bangladesh (follow-on funding, Bureau 555)
R&D Focus: advance on methods developed during the 2022 New Landscapes Pilot Program to support the education and widespread adoption across the industry of 2D and 3D digital garment representation and sampling skills.
Zoe Powell Best, London + Bertram Flesch, Indonesia (follow-on funding, SukkhaCitta)
R&D Focus: scaling up of yarn develpment technology developed during the 2022 New Landscapes Pilot Program that presents a viable, circular alternative to conventional cotton and synthetic fibres.
Iyabo Ademosu, London + Chioma Ogbudimkpa, Nigeria (first award)
R&D Focus: explore the optimisation of water hyacinth fibre sourced from Nigeria, to become a viable yarn for application within the fashion and textile industry.
Caroline Hyde-Brown, Norwich + Ummi Junid, Malaysia (first award)
R&D Focus: exploring the potential of food waste such as coffee, tea, fruit and vegetables, to achieve less harmful, and accessible textile dyeing materials and methods.
Repair Cafe, Wales + Iro Iro, India + Circular Design India, India (first award)
R&D Focus: development of a publicly available, free to use, pilot online community platform which connects people in India to UK indigenous textile menders.
Piarve Wetshi, London + Maria Ferida San Gabriel, Philipines (first award)
R&D Focus: exploration for how the weaving community located within rural areas both in the UK and the Philippines can become more credible actors within the wider, potentially global, and more sustainable fashion and textile ecosystem.
Applications now open | New Landscapes India
Applications are currently open for designers, design entrepreneurs and SME’s to join the New Landscapes India R&D grant scheme, which will offer 7 grants of up to £7,000.