NLive Radio - SHOUT TO THE TOP

Beyond the catwalk to examine the issues facing fashion

Listen on

Episode notes

The theme of this month’s edition is fashion – and the key issues facing the industry.

Senior Lecturer in Fashion, Gavin Douglas talks about the role of diversity in the industry and fashion education. In 2020, Gavin set up a mentoring scheme for black fashion students at UON, which aims to help them overcome the systemic barriers that cause the underrepresentation of leading black designers within the UK fashion industry.

Gavin’s colleague and fellow Senior Lecturer in Fashion, Emmeline Child, will also be chatting to Nick about the environmental impact of fast fashion. With almost 20 years of experience in sustainability in fashion and textiles, Emmeline has become a pioneer in sustainable issues around upcycling.

With the annual Graduate Fashion Week showcase of UK universities’ best student designers almost upon us, Nick speaks to undergraduates Natasha Finlay and Jonathan Goddard. Both have had their work shortlisted for Graduate Fashion Week awards, and talk to Nick about the inspiration behind their designs. They are also joined by the University’s Textiles for Fashion Programme Leader, Jane Mills.

Meanwhile, Dr Mike Redwood will be outlining the importance of the leather industry to fashion. Dr Redwood spent several years passing on his knowledge to students at the University’s Institute for Creative Leather Technologies, where he was a Visiting Professor.

It's an exclusively UON affair, as Nick also talks to Northampton-based fashion footwear designer, Guy West. Guy went from selling shoes in a market to co-founding the internationally renowned Jeffery-West shoe brand.