UoL Awarded Queen Elizabeth Prize for Education

Category: LITAC News
Date: Wednesday 26 November 2025

A Reflection on Leeds’ Textile Innovation by Professors Muhammad Tausif and Stephen Russell

The University of Leeds’ receipt of the Queen Elizabeth Prize for Education, celebrating 150 years of distinguished textile research, underscores a profound legacy. Here, at the School of Design and the LITAC, we are privileged to continue this tradition, recognising both the heritage and the responsibility it presents. Our research builds on generations of pioneering work, and we are honoured to contribute to its ongoing advancement.

Textile innovation has long been integral to the city of Leeds and its region, shaping economic and social development. The university, established with the support of The Clothworkers’ Company, evolved from technical instruction to a centre of global research excellence. The foundational Departments of Textile Industries and Tinctorial Chemistry set the stage for decades of internationally recognised scientific achievement. The support of The Clothworkers’ Company continues to this day, notably with the generous co-funding of LITAC in 2021.

Prof Stephen Russell (University of Leeds), Future Fashion Factory Director — Professor Steve Russell, Director of LITAC and the longest-serving member of the School of Design.

Over my tenure, I have observed textile innovation remain a constant driver of research excellence at Leeds. This enduring focus is fundamental not only to our university’s identity but to its continued relevance. Our industry-led approach ensures research delivers practical impact, as evidenced by initiatives like HyfaCol and Future Fashion Factory, which address key challenges facing a range of sectors.

Today, textiles are pivotal beyond traditional applications, addressing challenges in sustainability, healthcare, and advanced manufacturing. Our researchers are developing solutions for microplastics, supporting circular manufacturing, and collaborating internationally to advance material science and environmental stewardship.

Professor Muhammad Tausif, Head of School of Design and Professor of Sustainable Textile Manufacturing.

The Queen Elizabeth Prize for Education pays homage to textile legacy that is very much alive in the varied, collaborative and dynamic work in research and education that takes place at the University of Leeds today. This research sits at the frontier of areas such as advanced materials, circular textile manufacturing, green chemistry and fragmented fibres to name a few, contributing to dynamic landscape of impact and innovation that is critical to both academia and industry. The school offers world leading student and professional education in textiles, fashion and colour.

The School of Design and LITAC are grateful to be part of this ongoing journey. Through collaborative, industry-focused research, we remain committed to nurturing future leaders and to advancing innovation. The legacy of textile research at Leeds continues to underpin the university’s reputation and will shape its contributions for generations to come.