Shaping Our Circular Future: The Power of Circular Clothing Systems

We are the Textiles Circularity Centre, a research consortium led by the Royal College of Art. We are researching a new approach to fashion that cuts down on waste and pollution, and boosts economic fairness, personal fulfilment, community bonds, and human and environmental wellbeing. It's all about making fashion better for people and the planet. Learn more here.

This November and December, we need your input into our collective sustainable future by participating in our research studies. The Interdisciplinary Textiles Circularity Centre Supply Chain study is undertaking an Exploration of Circular Clothing System Configurations and their Value for Local Communities. This research is all about learning more about how a clothing supply chain works when it's designed to reuse resources in a circular way and understand the benefits this can have for communities.

We are looking for:

• Consumers – everyone who purchases and enjoys clothing.
  Menders and makers - anyone who's a dab hand at sewing, repairing, upcycling clothing!
• Anyone involved in a localised circular supply chain – if you have started, or are involved in, a small business or organisation based around upcycling, producing any kind of textile (for profit, charity or for fun), repair, reuse, resale and recycling.
• Friends and colleagues within the non-profit, NGO or local authority space – who has a role in engaging in the circular economy.

What to expect: We will invite you via email to take part in the session and visit the exhibition at the RCA's Battersea campus, with our friendly research team. The total duration of the workshop and the exhibition visit will be 2.5 hours to 3 hours. The total number of participants in each session will be between 5 and 18. In addition, 2 to 4 members of the research team will be present as facilitators. This will take place at the Hangar Space, Royal College of Art, Battersea. Date and time will be agreed based on your availability.

You'll be part of a group that includes different people involved in making and selling clothes. Together, you'll work on designing a new system and create a kind of map for how this new system will work, and you'll have a group conversation where you talk about what's important. The goal is to figure out how to make the system work in a way that helps the environment and local community to thrive is profitable. Before the workshop, you'll get to see a display of research by the Textiles Circularity Centre.

What to bring: An open mind, and your vision for our future! This is your opportunity to make your voice heard, and have an exciting impact on the future of the circular economy.

Dates: 27, 28 and 30 November. 1, 4 and 5 December.

Times: 10am–1pm or 2–5pm

The Textiles Circularity Centre is funded by the UKRI's National Interdisciplinary Circular Economy Research programme.