Textile Futures

Textile Futures returns for the third time to the University of Huddersfield.

Textile Futures is a unique fashion and textile careers event and a collaboration between WOVEN, West Yorkshire Combined Authority and the University of Huddersfield.

Eight secondary schools from West Yorkshire, with four of them being from Kirklees, will bring a group of textile students to the Barbara Hepworth Building for the day to learn from fashion and textile academics, tutors, industry professionals, and business leaders locally.

Every young person will tour around 4 zones:

1. Industry Innovators
The young people will meet textile professionals working in West Yorkshire and have chances to ask them about their job and career pathway. The Textile Centre of Excellence will be offering advice on local textile apprenticeships and UKFT (UK Fashion and Textiles Association) will give a short introductory presentation about the opportunities in the fashion and textiles sector in the UK now and into the future.

2. Graduate Showcase and University Tour
The date of Textile Futures intentionally coincides with the graduate exhibition on display around the Barbara Hepworth Building. Young people will have the chance to explore the work of the graduates and tour the fashion and textile facilities including embroidery, knit, weave and fashion construction.

3. Creative Workshop
This is a chance for the young people to get hands on with a practical and creative activity in the print lab. Delivered by print technicians, students will create a small artwork to take home and remind them of their day.

4. Technical Textiles
The University of Huddersfield is globally renowned for their technical textile research and innovation. A short walk from the Barbara Hepworth Building, the students will tour the technical textile labs and learn more about the intersection of textiles with other sectors including biomedical, agricultural and transport.

The students will be welcomed by Professor Parik Goswami, Director for Research, Innovation, and Knowledge Exchange at the University.

This is a closed event for selected schools only.