A New ‘T’ for Textiles: Training Design Researchers to Inspire Buying Office Staff Towards Sustainability at Hennes and Mauritz (H&M)

Abstract

The paper is based on a training programme given to researchers in the Textiles Environment Design (TED) project at the University of the Arts London (UAL). The programme took place over three years (September 2010 to October 2013) whilst the researchers were engaged as consultants and researchers for Hennes and Mauritz (H&M) and the Sustainable Fashion Academy (SFA) in Stockholm, Sweden. The project was developed as part of the Mistra Future Fashion research consortium, which aims to bring scientists and designers together to find sustainable and profitable industry solutions. The TED’s TEN sustainable design strategies for textiles and fashion was the framework for the Sustainable Design Inspiration (SDI) work at H&M – a broad and holistic approach to redesigning products including materials, process, systems, services, consumer behaviour and activism.

Keywords:

• sustainable textile design
• new skills
• training

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Rebecca Earley

Rebecca Earley is Professor of Sustainable Fashion and Textile Design at University of the Arts London (UAL). She has been a lead researcher at Textiles Environment Design (TED) since 2000 and Director of the Textile Futures Research Centre (TFRC) since 2010. She researches sustainable design strategy, curates exhibitions, creates materials, models and prototypes and mentors other designers and researchers to explore TED’s vision of a more sustainable industry and culture. Becky works with organizations to embed sustainable design research within the corporate culture. Recent clients include H&M, VF Corporation, Puma, DAFI, Sustainable Fashion Academy (SFA) and Zero Waste Scotland.

Clara Vuletich

Clara Vuletich is a printed textile designer and a researcher in sustainable textile design exploring ideas of material reuse, digital craft techniques and social design. Clara was part of the team that has developed TED’s The TEN, a set of ten sustainable design strategies for fashion/textile designers. Alongside this, Clara is a designer/maker, producing hand and digital printed textiles, wallpapers and garments. Clara has lectured within the UK and in Australia, and exhibited her textile work at venues including Audax Textile Museum, Holland and TENT London and is currently a Visiting PhD Fellow at University of Technology Sydney (UTS).

Phil Hadridge

Phil Hadridge has many years of experience helping groups in the public, commercial and voluntary sectors address the issues they face in interesting and useful ways. As a facilitator, he helps the people who know a business improve that business. He is experienced working at all levels, including challenging the boards of leading organizations to be productive, supporting teams to work well and assisting groups struggling with conflict to understand and move forward. Phil’s passion lies in helping others work with what inspires them, while maintaining a focus on implementation and outcomes.

Kirsti Reitan Andersen

Kirsti Reitan Andersen studied her BA at the English department, the University of Århus, and graduated with a Master degree in 2006 from the European Studies department. She recently completed a PhD at Copenhagen Business School specializing in cultural theory and analysis. After graduation Kirsti was employed as a research assistant at the Danish Design School and following this she worked as a Research and Project Manager at the Copenhagen Institute of Interaction Design (CIID) for 5 years, where she worked with innovation processes, people centered design, rapid prototyping, and fundraising, both taking part in consultancy and in research projects.