In this episode of the Global Challenge Podcast we look at resilience in the fashion and textile industry, particularly in relation to recent events such as Brexit and the pandemic. We will look at how these events have shaken the industry but also how they have led to adaptation and innovation for the sector.

We hear from a variety of perspectives from the industry such as a fashion designer and manufacturer from Maes London, an Operations Manager for Abraham Moons one of the last remaining vertical woollen mills in Great Britain, and academic perspectives from the University of Leeds and London College of Fashion.

Cotton is a natural fibre but the journey that this fibre takes from the humble cotton plant to your everyday t-shirt is quite unnatural. In this episode, we take a deep dive into why cotton could potentially be the most environmentally damaging fibre that is polluting our oceans on an enormous scale.

This episode is hosted by Professor Richard Blackburn (Professor of Sustainable Materials at the University of Leeds) he is joined by:

• Professor Paul Kay (Professor of Water Science at the University of Leeds)
• Olivia Skilbeck (PhD Researcher, University of Leeds)

What factors influence what clothes we decide to wear frequently, keep at the back of our wardrobes forever or send to the charity shop? Is developing an emotional attachment to our clothes the key to driving more sustainable consumption within the fashion industry?

In this podcast we discuss the durability of our clothes emotionally and physically and how this could be the key to cultivating a greener wardrobe.

This episode is hosted by Dr Mark Sumner, lecturer in sustainable fashion at the University of Leeds. He is joined by: 

Cat Salvage- Strategic Technical Manager at WRAP

Vicki Swain - Quality Lead for Primark

Kate Morris - PhD Researcher University of Leeds