Prof Alison Harley - Heriot

Focus on Fashion and Textiles –
a new Innovation Centre for
Scotland
Professor Alison Harley, Head of the School of
Textiles and Design, Heriot-Watt University
Kirsty Scott, Director, Weave-Consult,
Linsey Dickson, Research and Enterprises
Manager, RES Heriot-Watt University
1
The Opportunity for Scotland
• Background: the Scottish industry and the
Scottish Academy of Fashion
• Innovation Centre: the SIFT approach
• SIFT model and delivery structure
2
The Scottish Industry
• 647 companies directly employing more than 10,000
people
• Exports to more than 100 countries
3
The Scottish Industry
• Niche Manufacturing
Brands
• Interiors
• Technical and
performance materials
• Fashion
4
Aim: ‘to establish Scotland as a global centre of
excellence in fashion related learning and
commercially relevant research’
Beggs of Scotland
• Sampled designs in
digital print and weave
on new lightweight
fabric
• New point of difference
for sales and promotion
• SAF with Interface
6
Todd & Duncan: DNA of Cashmere
• Research project led by
HWU
• Developing a new fabric
from discarded
cashmere guard hair
• Innovative and
commercially-relevant
research
7
Mackintosh
• Design project drawing
on company heritage and
unique manufacturing
process
• Collection featured in
London and in Tokyo
stores
• PR outputs for company
and for SAF
8
Industry Workshops & CPD Events
• Broaden SAF’s
connections with SMEs
and start-ups
• Demonstrate
knowledge and skills
within Universities
• Develop dialogue with
industry
9
Student Awards
Todd and Duncan Prize, 2011
Johnstons of Elgin Prize, 2012
10
SAF Events
• Research Sandpit 2011
& 2012
• Industry-focused
research projects worth
over £300k
• SAF Showcase June
2011 - £30k worth of
press internationally
• SAF contribution to
international events,
2012/13
11
SAF Achievements
In 18 months……
• Generated industry projects worth £160k
• Attracted over £100k external funding
• Generated a project pipeline
And……
• Established cross disciplinary collaborative research
• Focused on, and attractive to industry
12
A Platform for Fashion and Textiles
• SAF provided a mechanism to enhance research
capability related to fashion and textiles
• Attracted international interest
• Preparation for the proposal ‘Scottish Innovation in
Fashion and Textiles’ SIFT
• Respond to the Scottish Government’s call for a step
change in the sector
13
SIFT Aspiration
Drawing on leading academic research and expertise
and in partnership with industry:
• Develop commercially focused projects with industry
partners
• Build opportunities in the development of smart
materials, high value branded products and
sustainable production
• Deliver tangible economic and business benefits to
Scottish companies
14
Theme 1: Surface and Materials
• Textile design, science and engineering are creating
new processes for active and responsive textile
surfaces
• Examples include opportunities in digital print,
photochromic, plasma treatments, and wireless
electronics
15
Shape-changing Textiles
16
Molecular Imprinted Textiles
• Future Textile Visions
project funded by
Scottish Government
• Smart textile products
for specific purposes
• AHRC funding for
project development
17
Theme 2: Information,
Transformation & Visualisation
• Visualization methods and other design-led
approaches will help to improve innovation
management and the multidisciplinary working
interface
• Transformation of industry practice, customer
engagement and supply chain
18
Scottish Textile Archive
•Living, ‘smart’ textile
archive
•Potential for
commercialising existing
IP in textiles companies
•AHRC funded
19
Theme 3: Design, Production and
Making
• High value niche manufacturing
• Environmental sustainability
• Interface between design and technology
20
Scottish-based Companies
• Harris Tweed
• Johnstons Cashmere
• Scottish Textile Industry
Association (100
companies)
• Scottish Leather Group
• Vascutek
21
SIFT Model: Partnership and
Alignment
22
Delivery
23
24