The Problem Textiles are ubiquitous in human lives, from the clothes we wear, the sheets we sleep under, the carpets we walk on, to the PPE that protects us. They are expressive of culture and identity. Yet the current state of production and consumption is unsustainable: textile and fashion industries are responsible for an estimated ten percent of annual greenhouse gas emissions, twenty percent of global wastewater, and result in the equivalent of one garbage truck of textiles sent to landfill or incinerated every second. Their production provides livelihoods for an estimated 250 million people associated with cotton production and seventy million garment workers, the majority of whom are women. This video presentation by TextileR member Dr Zoe Mellick outlines some of the ethical and sustainability problems within global textile and apparel value chains, and what TextileR is doing in response to these issues.

 

 

TextileR researchers work with small to medium enterprise (SMEs), industry and community groups focussing on solving these critical sustainability issues faced by the textile and fashion industries globally, from addressing modern slavery to enabling the circular economy.

 

 

The group’s research helps companies and organisations identify, test and commercialise new ideas that create transformative business opportunities and jobs, accelerating the open implementation of solutions with designers, SMEs, textile manufacturers, craftspeople, users and wearers, not-for-profits and recyclers.

 

 

In the community, TextileR offers a knowledge-base and meeting place for individuals and groups seeking to make change.

 

 

Globally, through deep industry and academic connections, we will facilitate collaboration with major textile initiatives, knowledge sharing and export opportunities with world‐leading textile nations.

 

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