Exploring the Future of Repair: Insights from the Ground Up

As part of the Future Fibres Network+, we’re working with Manchester Metropolitan University through the PCT Cross-Network initiative to better understand how repair and reuse practices can inform the transition toward more circular and sustainable business models in the fashion and textile sector.

This month we observed one of our pilot repair workshops in Falmouth, hosted by Cornwall Repair Specialist Emily Postle. Participants gathered around baskets of colourful yarn to learn traditional darning techniques — some attending their first-ever repair session, others keen to refresh forgotten skills.

Moments like this reveal the deeper role of repair — not just as a technical skill, but as a mindful, creative act that reconnects people to the things they wear.

Through the Cross-Network collaboration, insights from workshops like this are helping us build a shared evidence base for circular innovation — connecting local experiences of repair to national strategies for change across the fashion and textile system.

ECR Visit to Project Re:claim

On Thursday the ECR Network visited Project Re:claim first polyester recycling plant in Kettering. This is a ground-breaking joint venture between the Salvation Army Trading Company and Project Plan B, (one of FFN+'s partners on the Increasing Textile Circularity mini project). 

Dr Abigail Urving-Munro from Northumbria University organised the trip said   " Researchers from an array of disciplines had the opportunity to come together and work through a series of engagement activities.  All ECRs were allocated a clipboard and a series of questions to ask. As they toured the textile recycling facility, they were tasked with recording some of their findings as they went around the location."  

The ECRs participated in a working lunch, during which we had an open discussion about some of the findings gathered from the tour.

After this, the exercise explored PEST analysis in pairs to debate how the company navigates political, economic, social, and technological issues that face the textile recycling facility.  Many thanks to George and the team for their patience and time.  

UKFT unveils National Textile Recycling Infrastructure Plan

The plan identifies four priorities to deliver a functioning system: investment in infrastructure, skills and workforce, technology, and market capacity. It highlights the need for more automated sorting and pre-processing facilities, alongside innovation in fibre-to-fibre recycling and smarter logistics. At the same time, it calls for stronger end markets and value chains to ensure economic viability.

Delivering a new textile recycling infrastructure will require significant investment and shows how fundamental it is that the government rapidly adopts a UK textile EPR system.

The plan is the result of two years of research and consultation led by the UK Fashion & Textile Association (UKFT) and developed through the Circular Fashion Innovation Network (CFIN) in partnership with UK Research and Innovation (UKRI). It brings together insights from across the value chain - from local authorities and waste collectors to brands, recyclers and technology innovators.

At the Future Fibres Network Townhall #2, we asked participants four of the same questions we had previously posed to a UK-wide survey of 1,000 people. The comparison is striking, although probably expected: while the general public remains cautious and primarily driven by cost and quality, the specialist audience reveals a far stronger orientation toward sustainability. 

This contrast offers important insights for building the business case for a neoprene recycling plant in the UK.

To read the blog click here.

FFN+ Townhall #2: Exploring Consumer Perspectives on Recycled Polyester

Dr Shelley Kotze led an attitude-finding survey where the network views on polyester recycling were sought.  Attendees were asked to share their views by writing on bunting which you can view.  You can read her findings and the blog here.

Future Fibres Network+ network activity summary

This blog post written by Dr. Ben Parker summarises the main findings of the Networking activity carried out at the last Town Hall event (Design Museum, London). These data were collected for reporting purposes and also to help the FFN+ team identify ways to improve future engagement within the network.

Textile Institute World Conference (TIWC 2025) in Porto 

Dr Xinyi Guan  from the University of Huddersfield presented on “Toward Sustainable Textile: A Review on Chemical Recycling of Blend Textile Waste.” The presentation explored the role of chemical recycling in addressing one of the textile sector’s key challenges: the difficulty of recycling blended fabrics that contain multiple fibre types.

While mechanical recycling remains the most common approach, it has limited capability to process complex blends. Chemical recycling offers the potential to separate and recover pure fibres from blended textiles through depolymerisation or solvent-based processes. The review highlighted emerging strategies, their environmental and technical implications, and the need for scalable, energy-efficient solutions that align with long-term sustainability goals.

Looking to collaborate? Use the FFN+ Noticeboard 

Do you have a great idea, service or product or are you looking for collaborators in the fashion and textiles sector?   Whether you're a  scientist, designer, researcher or business expert in manufacturing,  supply chain or marketing, you can now access our cross-disciplinary network of specialists. Check this out on our website here. If you would like to submit a post please send this to: ffnplus@exeter.ac.uk with the subject 'Noticeboard Submission'. 

Do you have any stock or end-of-line items? Want to support an award-winning charity making a real impact?

If you’re a brand, business or retailer with surplus clothing, footwear, or accessories, Give Your Best would love to hear from you. By donating deadstock, you’ll not only prevent valuable items from going to landfill but also directly support refugee women and families, giving them the dignity of choice through an online platform and retail store.

Give Your Best is an award-winning charity recognised for its innovative, community-driven approach to tackling both social and environmental challenges. Their work has been celebrated for creating a model that reimagines how fashion can serve people and planet.

Techtextil Innovation Award 2026

Period: 15.9.2025 – 15.12.2025

Are you among the innovators exploring the limitless potential in technical textiles and nonwovens? Your ideas, inventions and results could show whole sectors the way to go. 

Submit your groundbreaking ideas by entering the Techtextil Innovation Award.
This is a great way to let your network and customers, competitors, trade press and potential new business partners know what can be achieved  in terms of technology, sustainability and creating technical textiles. Apply by 15 December 2025. Link here

Save The Date: Future Citizen 2026 

After a successful pilot year, Future Citizen project have announced the dates of the next instalment. 

Taking place between 16 - 22 March 2026, Future Citizen will invite educators to host events on fashion and sustainability with the aim of inspiring young people to take fashion action - giving them the tools to shift clothing habits, build resilience and design a fair fashion future.

Website | sustainablefashionweek.uk

ECR Circular Seminar Series continues in October with James Gallagher

Impact Through Engagement

Discover how to create engagement that leads to long lasting and meaningful impact. Through this interactive workshop you will explore the research impact landscape discovering how to create changes and benefits beyond the academic. From planning engagement projects to working with communities, this session will show you how to create high-quality projects tailored to your subject and skills.  Whether you are new to engagement or looking to get new perspectives on what you can do to improve this workshop is packed with tips, tricks and strategies for making the most of your engagement.

Both Sessions will take place on ZOOM (not Microsoft Teams). Please see the poster attached to this email for details.  Please contact Abigail Irving-Munro for more questions and links at a.irving-munro@northumbria.ac.uk.

ECR Circular Seminar Series -Career Journeys with Professor Tamara Galloway 

This series of seminars continues at 2pm on 27 November with Professor Tamara Galloway.  Please contact Abigail Irving-Munro for details and links at a.irving-munro@northumbria.ac.uk. 

Join Textile ETP!

Discover Europe’s largest and most dynamic network of professionals driving research and innovation in the textile and clothing industries. As the European Technology Platform for the Future of Textiles and Clothing, they unite researchers, industry leaders, and innovators shaping the future of the sector. 

Visit Textile ETP website for all upcoming events  here.

Beyond 2025

The leading conference for research and innovation in the creative industries, bringing together thinkers, makers, researchers, creatives, start-ups, students, investors and policy-makers from across the globe. This year’s conference takes place on November 24 – 26 in Media City, Salford and explores the intersection between imagination, technology and place, focusing on the rise of CreaTech, Innovation Districts and the Creator Economy.  For more information, please visit the link: BEYOND 2025

New Publication published by Professor Tamara Galloway, Paul Boisseaux and Marie Laure Delignette-Muller: A Quantitative Environmental Risk Assessment for Microplastics in Sewage Sludge Applied to Land

This paper details the most comprehensive environmental risk assessment to date for microplastics in sewage sludge applied to soil. This is of particular relevance to FFN+ as a significant portion of the microplastics in sewage sludge are microfibres derived from textiles and non woven wastes.

Tamara says: "Hundreds of millions of tonnes of sewage sludge are produced world wide each year as a by-product of wastewater treatment. Our results show that the current state of sludge application fails to protect 95% of soil biota. Our quantitative risk assessment could help keep microplastics levels in soil within acceptable limits and contribute to preservation of soil ecosystems".  You can read the paper here.

Information on Future Opportunities

ECR Fellowships (in cultural and heritage institutions)

This fellowship offers early career postdoctoral (or equivalent) researchers the opportunity to gain research and career experience in the galleries, libraries, archives, and museums (GLAM) sector. More details here. 11 Feb closing date.