The University of Leeds launched the BSc Textile Innovation & Sustainability in September 2024 in response to the growing need for sustainable, technologically advanced and environmentally responsible textile development. The programme equips students with the scientific, technical and creative skills needed to address global environmental and societal challenges facing the textile industry. From 2024/25, the Drapers’ Company provided bursaries for six UK students over a six‑year period, enabling talented individuals to access this important training regardless of financial circumstance.
Structure of the Initiative
The course blends core scientific and technical modules with practical exploration of textile materials, processes and future‑focused innovation. Students gain fundamental grounding in sustainability, circularity, digital technology and advanced textile systems. Optional modules allow students to specialise in topics aligned to their career goals, including sustainable manufacturing, coloration and finishing, knitted textiles, technical textiles and supply‑chain innovation.
Learning takes place through lab‑scale manufacturing, testing and characterisation facilities, with an optional placement year giving students direct experience in the UK textile sector. The programme forms part of a wider industry‑supported suite of training — including the MSc in Textile Sustainability & Innovation — developed through collaboration with the Textile Livery Group.
Impact on Young People Entering the Textile Industry
The BSc addresses an urgent skills shortage in the UK textile sector, where employers increasingly require graduates with strong technical knowledge and a deep understanding of sustainability. With pressure on the industry to reduce environmental impact and innovate responsibly, graduates of this programme will enter the workforce with a significant competitive advantage.
The course helps students to:
- Develop expertise in sustainable raw materials, circular design and low‑impact manufacturing.
- Use digital technologies and textile science to create innovative materials and processes.
- Understand how global supply chains are adapting to environmental demands.
- Build strong portfolios and undertake substantial research using advanced university facilities.
- Prepare for careers in design, technical development, R&D, manufacturing innovation and sustainability leadership.
Students report feeling “empowered to drive real change”, “technically confident”, and “excited about entering a future‑focused industry”, with many emphasising the importance of bursary support in enabling their studies.
The Role of the Drapers’ Company
The Drapers’ Company is a member of the Textile Livery Group supporting the development of advanced textile education in the UK. By funding bursaries for the BSc Textile Innovation & Sustainability, the Drapers’ Company helps ensure that financial barriers do not prevent promising students from accessing this vital training.
This support enables the next generation of textile innovators to gain the scientific, technical and sustainability skills urgently needed across the sector — strengthening the UK’s future capability in sustainable textile development and innovation.
