The fabric of society

The textile industry has been at the heart of the city of Leeds and its surrounding area for centuries. From the emergence of wool merchants and cloth halls to pioneering scientific breakthroughs, the region has a proud legacy of textile innovation.

The impact of Leeds’ research has now been recognised with one of the highest honours bestowed on UK universities and colleges. The prestigious Queen Elizabeth Prize for Higher and Further Education – part of the UK national Honours system – recognises Leeds’ 150 years of outstanding textile research.

Impact

• Civic engagement: the University of Leeds plays a pivotal role in supporting the city and its textile manufacturers by developing technology and nurturing the industry’s future leaders
• Interdisciplinary: researchers address challenges in areas including sustainability, HealthTech, and engineering, through textiles.

Key information

• Major funders: Arts and Humanities Research Council (AHRC), Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC), Medical Research Council
• Partners and collaborators: The Clothworkers' Company
• Disciplines: textiles, design, HealthTech
• Investigators: Professor Muhammad Tausif, Alma Palacios-Marín, Dr Nathanial Crompton, Professor Giuseppe Tronci, Professor Stephen Russell

Keywords: Leeds Institute of Textile and Colour (LITAC), Health and Life Sciences, dentistry, wound care, collagen, materials science, textile industry, textile heritage, clothworkers, Yorkshire heritage, textiles innovation