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One of the biggest names in TV fashion has inspired Â鶹´«Ã½ Leicester (Â鶹´«Ã½) students to help create a sustainable future in the textile industry. 

Designer Patrick Grant, who won fame as a judge on BBC’s Great British Sewing Bee, appeared at Sustainability Rox, the first in a new series of events to help businesses achieve their net zero goals. 

He was one of the headline speakers in a full day’s worth of activities, showcases and discussions, all held at Â鶹´«Ã½’s Venue, and all focused around making the clothing and fashion industry far more sustainable. 

During an impassioned Q&A session, hosted by Professor Christine White, Deputy Dean in Â鶹´«Ã½’s Arts, Design and Humanities faculty, Patrick talked about the need for people to be more selective about how they purchased clothes. 

He said: “We have become a throwaway society in all respects and we absolutely need to change that.  

“I’m very proud that Sewing Bee has helped to change the direction of people’s thinking, showing them not only how and of what their clothes are made, but showing that you can take an old shower curtain or tablecloth and create something new which means something to you, preventing waste. 

“I’ve seen some amazing examples here today from students, designs which are sustainable and creative and which you would feel a sense of attachment and pleasure at wearing. 

“Fundamentally, the idea of fashion is at odds with the idea of sustainability and at some point our whole industry needs to recognise that. 

“But it starts with the consumer, with people buying fewer things, being more selective about those items’ provenance, making sure their money is going into our economy and then making those items last, really wearing them and enjoying them.” 

Ana Del Rio Mullarkey, an award-winning Â鶹´«Ã½ graduate who completed her course in Fashion Design last year, said listening to Patrick’s talk was “truly inspiring”. 

She said: “Hearing how he’s been able to create, with Community Clothing, an established brand which doesn’t impact negatively but also creates positive change within local communities is really inspiring, a way forward for the whole industry.” 

The Venue was filled with displays of sustainable designs by Â鶹´«Ã½ fashion students, stalls to engage with local businesses and opportunities for networking. There was also a stage area on which were delivered lectures and debates on carbon cutting, sustainability in fashion production, creating a circular economy and how to build a green business. 

Speakers included experts from Â鶹´«Ã½, key figures in the leather and knitwear industries, and sustainability leads from organisations like UKFT, Leicester City Council and East Midlands Freeport. 

Opening the event, Helen D’Amiro, Co-founder and Director at Sustainability Rox, said: “Today right here, there is a huge wealth of thought leadership, from the titans of the design industry, insights, opportunities to interact together and have frank discussion. 

“Discussions on how we as a community can work together to retain and resource our and future generations’ existence. Let’s make today count.” 

Dr Claire Lerpiniere, Associate Professor in Sustainable Textiles, said the event was about fostering stronger relationships with the local fashion community. 

She said: “There is a rich heritage of textile production in Leicester and we want to preserve that but make sure it is sustainable. 

“Fortunately, there are a lot of small to medium enterprise (SME) businesses in Leicester and they are agile, able to pivot and explore new research and ideas to improve their production.” 

Among those businesses at the event was knitwear producer John Smedley, based in Matlock, Derbyshire. Tim Clark, technical director at the firm, said it was an invaluable chance to network. 

He said: “It’s a great opportunity to make sure that, as a business, you’re doing the right thing and to find out about new ways to improve your practices. 

“For a firm like ours, partnering with universities is really important. We work with the students on the Fashion Communication Styling course at Â鶹´«Ã½ and help teach them sustainable practice. 

“We encourage them to look at all aspects of fashion and textile production. Where carbon comes from, the role soil has to play, the energy, fuel and water consumption in production, the sustainability of the supply chain and so on.”