Game || Change
Game || Change: LCF Global Sportswear Futures Symposium 2026
Rethinking Sportswear: Design Futures, Materials Innovation and Circular Systems
17 November 2026 (afternoon session, in-person)
18 November 2026 (morning session, in-person)
East Bank
London College of Fashion, UAL
105 Carpenter's Road
Stratford
E20 2AR
About the symposium
London College of Fashion (UAL) is hosting the Game || Change - Global Sports Fashion Symposium 2026, an event bringing together industry leaders, material innovators, designers, and researchers and practitioners and students working across sports, fashion, technology and responsible material systems. The symposium will create opportunities for practical insight, cross-sector collaboration, and applied innovation.
The global sportswear industry has undergone a profound transformation, driven by the growth of activewear and lifestyle mainstreaming of athleisure and wider integration of sport-oriented clothing into everyday life. As the boundaries between sport and fashion continue to blur, sportswear is also becoming a vehicle for personal expression, social identity and everyday cultural practice, raising new questions around aesthetics, representation and global design influence.
At the same time, digital technologies have been reshaping how sportswear is designed, produced and experienced. IoT-enabled sensing, biosensors, AI, and 3D/4D printing are accelerating developments in wearable technology, data-driven customisation, faster prototyping and more responsive production systems.
This growth also presents urgent sustainability challenges which cannot be addressed through material substitution alone; they require new approaches to design, data application, procurement, use, care, redistribution, recycling and circular systems.
Game || Change responds to this moment of convergence. The symposium will examine how sportswear design, materials innovation and circular systems are reshaping and reimagining the future of the global apparel ecosystem. Building on the momentum of previous collaborations, the event will provide a platform for dialogue between industry, research and emerging talent.
Key dates
- Symposium dates: 17 and 18 November 2026
- Abstract submission opens: 15 May 2026
- Abstract submission deadline: 15 September 2026
- Notification of acceptance: 1 October 2026
Symposium directors
- Dr Mingjing Lin, Active Materials Lab Co-lead, London College of Fashion
- Mikha Mekler, Knowledge Exchange Lead, School of Design and Technology, London College of Fashion
Organising committee
- Claudine Rousseau, Dean of School of Design and Technology, London College of Fashion
- Professor Veronika Kapsali, Active Materials Lab Lead, London College of Fashion
- David Hopwood, Programme Director, Product Programme, London College of Fashion
- Jess Williamson, Course Leader, BA Hons Fashion Sports, London College of Fashion
Themes and topics of interest
We welcome contributions that address current and emerging developments in sportswear design, performance materials and the broader systems shaping the future of the industry. Submissions may engage with one or more of the following themes:
Sport culture and aesthetics
- Sport, identity and the role of fashion narratives in community and belonging
- Global design influences, heritage and cross-cultural exchange and localisation in sports
- Representation, diversity and inclusivity in sportswear design
- E-sports and gaming cultures in contemporary sportswear
Sustainability and circular supply systems
- Circular design strategies: closing the loop in sportswear development and end-of-life systems
- Responsible sourcing, supply chain transparency and ethical manufacturing
- Business models supporting the move to sustainability, Digital product passports, traceability systems and supply chain transparency
Digital design and production
- Artificial intelligence and generative design in 3D workflows
- Data-driven design, virtual prototyping and simulation-based development
- The role of digital tools in reducing material waste and accelerating innovation
New technological and material intervention
- Advanced performance textiles: adaptive, responsive and multifunctional fabrics
- Additive manufacturing and 3D printing in sportswear: from rapid prototyping to bespoke performance components
- Wearable technology, embedded sensing and human-centred performance design
- Sport science-informed approached to movement, comfort and performance
Contribution formats
We welcome submissions from researchers, designers, technologists, brands, start-ups and material innovators.
Contributors may submit entries in a range of formats and may submit more than one entry. Please indicate the selected format with each submission.
Presentation
Onsite or online
Please state clearly whether you wish to present onsite or online.
Industry presentations may share insights from product development, material innovation, technology adoption, manufacturing, sustainability strategies or collaborative projects.
Practice-led or case study presentations may showcase design processes, prototyping methods, user-centred approaches, commercial projects, circular strategies or applied innovation in sportswear.
Workshop
Onsite
- Hands-on material or technology demonstrations.
- Digital tool, AI, 3D/4D printing, wearable technology or performance-design sessions.
- Collaborative exercises exploring circular design, user needs, sustainability, repair, reuse or future sportswear systems.
Please state clearly the proposed format, duration, participant capacity, equipment requirements, technical support needed and any health and safety considerations.
Display of material, technology or poster
Onsite
Please state clearly the dimensions and details of the displayed materials, technologies or posters, as well as any technical support required, such as lighting, tables, display boards or electrical provision. Please note that due to space limitations, we may liaise with selected contributors to discuss the feasibility of their projects.
We welcome contributions from technology developers, designers, manufacturers, laboratories, start-ups, brands and material innovators presenting emerging tools, fabrication methods, product samples, prototypes or material systems.
Commercial contributions to the displays will be chargeable depending on the amount of space that is required please enquire with the organising team.
Panel, fireside talks or roundtable proposals
Onsite or online
Collaborative submissions that bring together diverse perspectives from across industry and design practice.
Symposium outcomes
As part of the symposium we will process proceedings for the benefits of the participants in the form of the below outlined outcomes:
Outcome 1: Publication Opportunities
Abstracts submitted and selected for oral presentations, workshops and display of material, technology or posters, will be published in the Proceedings of Game || Change
Outcome 2: Symposium Participation Certificates
Participants of the GAME || CHANGE will receive a participation certificate in recognition of their contribution to the event.
Additional outcomes may include:
- Talent connections between brands, designers and researchers
- Insights into material innovation and sustainable supply systems
- Shared frameworks for responsible sportswear design
The symposium also forms part of a wider initiative connecting enterprise, research and design education across London College of Fashion and its local and international partners, supporting long-term collaboration and knowledge exchange.
Submission guidance
Authors, presenters and/or demonstrators are invited to submit abstracts as a PDF document. Please include:
- A title
- Author(s) and affiliation, short biography (100 words per contributor)
- Contribution type, please indicate clearly whether your participation will be online or onsite
- Each submission entry should clearly state the format selected. Abstract (300-500 words), which may include: project, product, service or initiative overview
- Key industry challenges addressed
- Key outcomes, insights or lessons learned
- Relevant images (5 max) of the work
The same authors may submit multiple entries across different formats outlined above. All abstracts should be submitted to gsfs@arts.ac.uk.