Network backing fashion and textile businesses sews up its 100th industry partner
A scheme which is part of an £80m industry support initiative is giving fashion and textile businesses new access to innovation opportunities.
Future Fashion Factory was launched in October 2018 with just 10 core partners and three academic centres: University of Leeds, University of Huddersfield, and Royal College of Art. Leeds City Council and Burberry were among the partners.
Since then, businesses from young independent designers to major retailers have got involved, as well as technology and data companies supporting the fashion and textile industry.
Now the programme has surpassed 100 members with the addition of Haworth-based Wyedean Weaving Co, which supplies uniform, accoutrements and braid to the UK Ministry of Defence and Armed Forces.
Among the recent additions to the Future Fashion Factory community are technology giant IBM, young design brand Cunnington & Sanderson, and Community Clothing, the social enterprise founded by Great British Sewing Bee judge Patrick Grant.
Other partners in Yorkshire include Laxtons (Baildon), Joseph H Clissold (Bradford) and AW Hainsworth (Leeds).
Individual professionals working across the industry are also welcome to become members, as are students and alumni of the three academic centres.
Members of Future Fashion Factory receive privileged access to the cutting-edge research being conducted at the three universities, access to members-only events and networking opportunities, and eligibility to apply for collaborative research and development funding. The second funding call will open to expressions of interest on September 2.
Future Fashion Factory Co-Director Suzy Shepherd, founder of Yorkshire Textiles, said: “We’re thrilled with the extent of the support Future Fashion Factory has received across the industry, from independent designers to global brands and Yorkshire’s prestigious mills. Members of our community share a fantastic bank of knowledge, skills and creativity which is already enabling new collaborations and making a real difference to businesses.
“We remain committed to supporting innovation in the UK fashion and textiles industry and can’t wait to see where these new partnerships lead.”
Rosie Wright, Business Development Manager of the programme’s 100th member, Wyedean Weaving Co, said: “We are delighted to be involved with Future Fashion Factory and glad to see so many other Yorkshire textile mills already involved. We are excited to see how we may be able to work together, or collaborate with others on new innovative projects.”
Future Fashion Factory is part of the Creative Industries Clusters Programme, an initiative led by the Arts and Humanities Research Council as part of the Industrial Strategy. The programme is led by the University of Leeds in partnership with the University of Huddersfield and Royal College of Art.
To find out more about Future Fashion Factory, visit www.futurefashionfactory.org
