Research
Research and innovation are essential to transform the fashion and textiles industry to a sustainable and just future. Our researchers aim to offer tangible solutions to the industry’s most pressing problems through collaboration with industry professionals and across various academic disciplines.
Researchers
Research Director
Dr Timo Rissanen is an associate professor in fashion and textiles in the School of Design, Faculty of Design, Architecture and Building, at the University of Technology Sydney (UTS). His research focuses on design-led approaches to sustainability and social justice in fashion and textile systems. His research expertise includes design for sustainability and circularity, product-service systems, and transition design in fashion. He co-authored Zero Waste Fashion Design (2016) with Holly McQuillan, and co-edited Shaping Sustainable Fashion (2011) with Alison Gwilt. He is a founding member of the Union of Concerned Researchers in Fashion. Read more about Timo’s research areas on the UTS website.
Assoc Professor Timo Rissanen
Research Affiliate
Doris is a research leader in advanced fashion manufacturing focusing on knitwear design and technology, including functional garments, new materials, and activewear. She is an authority on Wholegarment knitting design and programming, and supervises research projects on fashion and technology with an emphasis on more sustainable manufacturing and design processes. Doris was a leading researcher in the Laboratory for Artificial Intelligence in Design Limited (AiDLab) a research operation jointly established by Hong Kong Polytechnic University and The Royal College of Art in the U.K. She is a member of the Centre of Excellence’s Fashion Educator’s Working Group. Read more about Doris’ experience on the UTS website.
Dr Doris Li
Dr Donna Sgro
Donna is a Lecturer in fashion and textiles design, with a background as an independent fashion designer. Her research investigates creative pattern cutting in fashion and textile design using studies from nature and methods of metaphoric analysis. Donna teaches across 1st, 3rd and Honours years in the Fashion & Textiles Design Program, and has taught in the School of Design's Interdisciplinary Design and Design Studies programs. She has been involved in the Centre of Excellence on the Steering Committee and Fashion Educator’s Working Group. Read more about Donna’s research on the UTS website.
Research Affiliate
Patricia Chircop
The Future Factory Network: How do we make slow fashion fast?
Integrating Industry 5.0 principles and 3D knit technology presents an opportunity to establish a Future Factory Network that fosters the possibility of hyperlocal production for both independent designers and large fashion brands, nullifying the significance of the designer and consumer's geographic location. Embodying circular economy principles, enabling design flexibility and product innovation while significantly reducing waste generation and simplifying customization. The resulting Future Factory Network can promote circular economies and enhance the well-being of every actor in the system through smart manufacturing systems and advanced manufacturing technology.
Affiliated PhD candidates
Wajiha Pervez
Adversarial Design and Agonistic Collectives – A Design for Disassembly Approach for Making Athleisure Clothing within a Circular Economy
The research aims to ask questions about the preconceived materiality of athleisure clothing by disassembling the systems of athleisure clothing production rooted in fossil fuel derivatives and hyper-consumption. The research seeks to develop experimental textiles and garment prototypes with natural materials using hand-stitched couture techniques and textile construction techniques such as smocking, circular knitting and weaving in collaboration with a broader fashion and textiles network, including weavers, designers, knitting experts, and industrial facilities. The garments and their feedback will act as proposals for the ‘degrowth’ of the wasteful athleisure garment industry practices, including material selection, limiting resource use, conserving human and natural capital, and maximising the reuse, repair and regeneration opportunities while developing athleisure garments within a circular economy.
Affiliated PhD candidates