Professor Dilys Williams
Title
Professor of Fashion Design for Sustainability
College
London College of Fashion
Email address
Tags
Researcher Research

Biography
Professor Dilys Williams FRSA is founder and Director of Centre for Sustainable Fashion, a University of the Arts London Research Centre, based at London College of Fashion, which she established in 2008.Guiding the centre’s exploration of fashion and sustainability, her work contributes to the study of fashion as a life well lived within ecological boundaries and practices of human equity. Through design practice, this is applied to new forms of education, business, public and political dialogue.
Dilys’ work draws on her longstanding research, teaching and industry experience as a lead womenswear designer with international collections for Katharine Hamnett, Liberty and Whistles, AHRC, ERDF, ESRC and Erasmus funded projects in Fashion Design for Sustainability and knowledge exchange work with small to large businesses. Having established and led MA Fashion and the Environment, now MA Fashion Futures, led by Julia Crew, her teaching spans from BA to PhD supervision.
As Special Advisor to the House of Lords All Party Parliamentary Group on Fashion, Sustainability and Ethics, she brings a range of climate and social change considerations to the attention of key political figures, creating space for a range of voices for change to be heard.
Her place on the Evening Standard’s London’s Progress 1000 list in 2015, 2016 and 2017 evidences the public and academic influence of her work. Dilys holds advisory roles to business and academic institutions and regularly contributes to media publications including the Guardian, ShowSTUDIO and Salt magazine. In 2020, she was named Drapers’ Sustainable Fashion Champion.
Trained at Manchester Metropolitan University and holding a UAL professorship, Dilys publishes widely on fashion and sustainability in academic journals and published books.
Current research projects include leadership of a cross EU project, FashionSEEDS, funded by Erasmus, to develop a platform for teaching and learning in Fashion Design for Sustainability, which will become an open source resource for tutors internationally.
Fostering Sustainable Practices, funded by AHRC, which Dilys co-manages and is co-investigator, is a cross university partnership exploring small and micro business design and entrepreneurship practices that balance cultural, social, environmental and economic sustainability. She is also Co-I on BFTT, a multi-stranded project with multiple partners, Dilys is working with Steve Evans of Cambridge University and with industry partner, ASOS, to develop design and business practices for sustainability.
For more information about the centre, go to www.sustainable-fashion.com
Grants and awards
(Figures indicate amount awarded to UAL)
- EU funded Erasmus + Strategic Partnership, Fashion SEEDS, €134,525.00, (2018)
- Arts and Humanities Research Council, Rethinking Fashion Design Entrepreneurship: Fostering Sustainable Practices, £445,116.00, (2018)
- Technology Strategy Board, Re-Making, £135,848.00, (2015-2017)
- Arts and Humanities Research Council (AHRC), IStoodUpToViolence, £6,370.00, (2014-2015)
- Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC), TRANSFER: TRading Approaches to Nurturing Sustainable consumption in Fashion and Energy Retail, £17,422.00, (2014-2014)
External Links
Research Outputs
Art/Design item
- Jones C, Koh L, McIntosh A, Storey H, Williams D. TRANSFER - Trading Approaches to Nurturing Sustainable consumption in Fashion and Energy Retail (2015)
- Williams D, McIntosh A. Shared Talent India Online Sourcing Toolkit (2009)
- Williams D, McIntosh A. Shared Talent India Online Sourcing Toolkit (2009)
Article
- Mazzarella F, Storey H, Williams D. Counter-narratives Towards Sustainability in Fashion. Scoping an Academic Discourse on Fashion Activism through a Case Study on the Centre for Sustainable Fashion (2019)
- Williams D. Fashion Design as a Means to Recognize and Build Communities-in-Place (2018)
- Corby T, Williams D, Sheth V, Dhar V. I Stood Up: Social Design in Practice (2016)
- Williams D, Torres S. Dilys Williams: A voice for radical change in the fashion industry (2015)
- Williams D. Fashion is about desire and reinvention. Sustainability is just the next step to consider. (2014)
- Williams D. Fashioning the Future (2014)
- Williams D, Earley K. Centre for Sustainable Fashion: Inspiring a new way of thinking (2013)
- Fletcher K, Williams D. Fashion Education In Sustainability In Practice (2013)
- Williams D. Sustainable Futures - In Conversation with Dilys Williams (2012)
Book Section
- Williams D. Fashioned from Nature 1990 - Present (2018)
- Williams D. Fashion, Sustainability and Luxury: an interplay through design (2018)
- Williams D. Fashion, the city, and the spectacle (2017)
- Williams D, Toth-Fejel K. The Will and the Skill in Education for Sustainability (2017)
- Williams D. Transition and Transformation in Fashion Education for Sustainability (2016)
- Williams D. Fashion Design and Sustainability (2015)
- Williams D. Fashion Design (2015)
- Manzini E, Till J, Williams D. Fashion Habit(AT) for Resilience (2015)
- Williams D. The Making of a Social Object: Collaboration between Nike and Centre for Sustainable Fashion (2013)
- Williams D. Designers fashioning the future industry (2012)
- Williams D, Fletcher K. Shared talent: an exploration of the potential of the 'Shared Talent' collaborative and hands on educational experience for enhanced learning around sustainability in fashion practice (2010)
Conference, Symposium or Workshop item
- Williams D, Forst L, Vladimirova D, Evans S. Building our worlds: co-developing future scenarios as a methodology for fashion researchers and designer-innovators (2021)
- Forst L, Vladimirova D, Williams D, Evans S. Re-Modelling Fashion through Scenario Planning: Conceptual scenarios informing design practices (2021)
- Williams D. Fashion Design for Sustainability: A framework for participatory practice (2019)
- Williams D. Just Fashion Lab at the Hay Festival 2015 (2015)
- Williams D. Sustainable sourcing and responsible value chains (2015)
- Williams D. CityLab2050 Circular Fashion Idea Lab: keynote (2015) (2015)
- Williams D. Fashion Question Time at the Houses of Parliament (2015)
- Williams D. I Stood Up (ii) (2015)
- Williams D. The Future of Fashion (2014)
- Williams D. Wear Your Culture (2014)
- Williams D. CityLab2050 Circular Fashion Idea Lab: keynote (2014) (2014)
- Williams D. Ethics and Sustainability in Fashion: roundtable debate (2014)
- Williams D. Fashion Revolution: Luxury Practice (2014)
- Williams D. Sustainable and Innovative Fashion Conference Seminar: The Making of a Social Object (2013)
- Williams D, Stevenson N. Presentation at Next Generation Forum (2013)
- Williams D. Fashion Education in Sustainability: Change Through Experiential Crossings (2013)
- Williams D. Sustainability in Fashion (2013)
- Williams D, Mair C. Experiencing Fashion - Better Lives Lecture Series (2013)
- Williams D. Debates in Enterprise and Sustainability (2013)
- Williams D, Young L. Design for Sustainability Educators Network: House of Lords Dinner Debate (2013)
- Williams D. Made in GB ‐ manufacturing and fashion provenance. (2012)
- Williams D. Creation in Sustainable Fashion - Rio Moda Discute Internacional 2012 (2012)
- Williams D. Copenhagen Fashion Summit – Youth Summit (2012)
- Williams D, Young L, Corner F, Fletcher K, Potts R. Close to Home / Made in the UK (2011)
- Williams D, Fletcher K. Shared Talent: An exploration of the potential of the ‘Shared Talent’ collaborative and hands-on educational experience for enhancing learning around sustainability in fashion practice. (2009)
- Williams D, Fletcher K. Shared Talent: An exploration of the potential of the ‘Shared Talent’ collaborative and hands-on educational experience for enhancing learning around sustainability in fashion practice. (2009)
- Williams D. Talk: Poison and Antidote (2008)
Other
- Williams D, Burcikova M. Condé Nast - The Sustainable Fashion Glossary (2020)
- Stoppard L, Williams D. SHOWstudio Live Panel Discussion: Paris Womenswear A/W 2015 Maison Margiela (2015)
- Williams D. Sustainable and Innovative Fashion: video (2014)
- Stoppard L, Williams D. SHOWstudio Live Panel Discussion: Paris Womenswear S/S 2015 Comme Des Garçons (2014)
- Stoppard L, Williams D. SHOWstudio Live Panel Discussion: Milan Womenswear S/S 2015 Jil Sander (2014)
- Stoppard L, Williams D, Cuoco R. SHOWstudio Live Panel Discussion: Sustainable Fashion (2014)
- Stoppard L, Williams D, Sheridan-Young L, Theo N, Falconer R. SHOWstudio Live Panel Discussion: Kenzo A/W 2013 (2013)
- Stoppard L, Williams D, Corner F, Plewka K, Quick H. SHOWstudio Live Panel Discussion: J.W. Anderson A/W 2013 (2013)
- Stoppard L, Williams D, Corner F, Hume M. SHOWstudio Live Panel Discussion: Fashion East S/S 2013 (2012)
- Williams D. Shwop Lab: Marks & Spencer (2012)
- Williams D. Katharine Hamnett and Dilys Williams in Conversation - Fashioning an Ethical Industry Conference 2008 (2008)
Report
- Black S, Williams D, Burcikova M, Vecchi A, Norton Z, Brennan G, Lyon F, Colombi C, D'Itria E, Clutier-Léauté D, Ruelle-Akl N. Support report mapping sustainable fashion opportunities for SMEs (2019)
- Williams D. Volume 9.0: Habit(at) A field-day exploring City Lives, Lost and Found: A Fashion Perspective (2014)
- Williams D. Habit(AT) Denoting Practices in Space and Time (2014)
- Williams D. Community Repair Project: Strategic Social Skill Mobilization For Sustainable Fashion (2011)
- Maxwell D, Williams D. DEFRA Clothing Action Plan (2011)
- Williams D, Baldwin N, Fletcher K. Volume 3.0: Centre for Sustainable Fashion: tactics for change (2008)
- Williams D, Fletcher K, Stevenson N. Volume 3.0: Centre for Sustainable Fashion: tactics for change (2008)
- Williams D, Stevenson N. Volume 1.0: Centre for Sustainable Fashion: A Snapshot Analysis
- Williams D. Volume 2.0: Centre for Sustainable Fashion: Fashioning the Future
- Williams D. Volume 4.0: Centre for Sustainable Fashion: Green Collar Graduates for the Fashion Industry
- Williams D. Volume 7.0: Centre for Sustainable Fashion: Transformational Thinking
- Higginson H, Saio N, Swinnerton A, Williams D. Promoting sustainable Indian textiles: final report to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra), London, UK
Show/Exhibition
- Williams D. Fashioning the Future Awards 2011 (2011)
- Williams D, McIntosh A. London Style (2009)
- Williams D. Nike Launch 2020 Summit and Exhibition
- Williams D. Fashion Now and Fashion Futures 2030 part of V&A's Fashioned from Nature exhibition
Teaching
Current research students
- Flavia Amadeu, The Materiality of Rubber Artefacts from the Amazon Rainforest in Design and Crafts. (Lead supervisor)
- Victoria Ho, Role of Designer: Engagement of Artisans from Vietnam Within a Dynamic Business Model (Joint supervisor)
- Lauren Junestrand Leal, “Extending the life of fashion through circularity: an exploration into consumer behaviour towards clothing utilisation and consequent strategic opportunities for fashion brands.” (Lead supervisor)
- Yvonne Ntiamoah, Decolonised Academic Curriculum in Fashion Design Pedagogy in Africa (Lead supervisor)
- Elisa Palomino Perez, How can fish skin leather be designed in an environmentally responsible way as an alternative to exotic leather, contributing to the improvement of sustainable fashion systems? (Lead supervisor)
- Katherine Pogson, Deep fashion: craft values as transformative tools to create new relationships with fashion artefacts, and more sustainable futures for consumers and makers in the UK. (Lead supervisor)
- Katelyn Pugh (Toth-Fejel), Fashion-In-Residence: A practice-led enquiry into the landscape of local clothing systems (Joint supervisor)
Past research students
- M Cook-Obregon, MA Fashion Futures
Subjects
Fashion design