Future Fashion Factory Spring Expo 2024

Highlighting innovation across Future Fashion Factory’s industrial network, the Spring Expo was an opportunity to share the latest developments from across our membership network, particularly in light of the ongoing ground-breaking work to achieve sustainable outcomes for the fashion and textile industry.

Topics on the day included the best strategies businesses can pursue to acquire follow-on funding, the ways in which fashion businesses can synergise with technological solutions, and how manufacturing businesses can close the loop to achieve circular economies.

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Highlights from the Day

Videos and photography by MOTUS TV.

Please see below for the day’s full schedule of panel discussions.

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Commencement Talks

Speakers: Tom Riordan, Chief Executive, Leeds City Council and Professor Stephen Russell, Director, Leeds Institute of Textiles and Colour.

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Panel One – Follow-on Funding for Fashion and Textile Businesses.

Chair: Irene Maffini, Advisor at PDS ventures.

Speakers: John Bertolasa, CTO Materra and Aida Abouelela, CEO, DyeRecycle.

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Panel Two – Synergies between Digital Technologies and the Fashion and Textile Industry.

Chair: Mark Sumner, Lecturer in Sustainable Fashion, University of Leeds.

Speakers: Assaf Reeb, Founder, XXII Studio, Roseanna Jiggins, Founder, SwatchEditor, Alexandra Maslova, Co-CEO, seamm.

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Panel Three – Challenges vs Opportunities for Fashion Manufacturing and Reprocessing Businesses

Chair: Sarah Angold, Innovation Consultant.

Speakers: Amanda McLaren, Managing Director, AW Hainsworth, Jamie Whitehouse, Director of Operations, Boot Repair Company, Salli Deighton, Co-Founder, LaundRe.

Closing Remarks

Speaker: Adam Mansell, CEO, UKFT