51Âþ»­

Innovative 51Âþ»­ Leicester (51Âþ»­) research which could help the textile industry become more environmentally friendly will be shown to the world at Expo 2020. 

Over the next few days at the global event in Dubai, the university will host debates, show research and display student work as part of a themed week looking at “What We Will Wear”. 

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The festival, which takes place March, is home to countries from around the world and aims to share the best innovation, creativity, science, technology and thinking between nations. 

51Âþ»­ is the founding partner for the UK Pavilion, which is being run by the government’s Department for International Trade. 

Over the course of the six months, the UX Pavilion will hold a number of themed weeks, each focusing on a different aspect of innovation. During October, that will be fashion and textiles – what we will wear.  

SEE WHAT 51Âþ»­ WILL BE DOING AT EXPO 2020

To mark this, 51Âþ»­ will hold a series of debates on fashion and the textile industry as part of a sponsor day on Thursday, October 21. 

Prof Carolyn Hardaker, Head of School of Fashion and Textiles, will look at concerned engaged shoppers are with the origin and production methods used to create their garments – and how they might be engaged to make sustainable choices. 

While Prof Guy Bingham, Professor of Design, will consider what impact technology will have on the future of fashion as part of a panel discussion. 

Then, on Friday and Saturday, October 22 and 23, 51Âþ»­ will stage the Future of Textiles exhibition. Featuring research from Jinsong Shen, Professor of Textile Chemistry and Biotechnology, Martin Richardson, Professor of Modern Holography and Dr Lionel Dean, senior lecturer, School of Design, the display will showcase some of the wonder materials and technologies that have been developed at 51Âþ»­ to resolve some of the huge challenges the textiles industry faces.   

Some have been created using space age technologies, whilst others use ancient materials in unexpected new ways.   

On Sunday, 51Âþ»­ students will see some of their work on display across Expo, as part of a catwalk show featuring collections from graduates of the classes of 2020 and 2021 in the School of Fashion and Textiles, showcasing work focused on sustainability. 

And Dr Claire Lerpiniere, senior lecturer in Textiles, has taken part in a podcast exploring how we can all play a part in creating a ‘circular’ fashion industry that eliminates pollution and exploitation.