About three weeks ago, on November 23-24, a global conference on circularity, design and textiles, called Circular Transitions, took place in central London. The two-days’ event was the first global event “to bring together academic and industry research concerned with designing fashion textiles for the circular economy”, according to the conference website. At the conference, Green Strategy’s Anna contributed with a poster entitled “Circular Fashion Essentials”. (See image at the bottom of this post.)
Main organizers of the conference were Professor Rebecca Earley and Dr. Kate Goldsworthy, both based at University of the Arts in London. The conference was held in the historical buildings of Tate Britain and Chelsea College of Arts. As a global event, the conference gathered around 100 invited participants from across the world, including the United States, Spain, Finland, Sweden and New Zealand. The two-days event contained keynote presentations, six parallel workshop themes (with approximately 30 academic papers), interactive sessions, a rich poster exhibition, as well as networking reception and a conference dinner at Chelsea College of Arts. Keynote presentations were held by high-level profiles such Cyndi Rhoades (Word Again), Elin Larsson (Sustainability Head of Filippa K) and Sophie Thomas (Thomas Matthews). The workshops were organised into three main themes: Materials, Models and Mindsets. The full program can be downloaded here.
The conference was highly inspirational in many ways, providing not only quality presentations and interesting open discussions and but also time for more personal conversations and valuable networking. Below are some pictures from the event.

Main organizers of the Circular Transitions conference were Professor Rebecca Earley and Dr. Kate Goldsworthy, both at University of the Arts in London. (Photo by Dr. Anna Brismar)

Sigrid Barnekow, Program director of Mistra Future Fashion research program, was one of the co-hostesses of the conference. (Photo by Dr. Anna Brismar)

Phil Hadridge was a great moderator of the conference. (Photo by Dr. Anna Brismar)

Here, myself (Dr. Anna Brismar), standing next to my poster “Circular Fashion Essentials”.

The conference provided some great networking opportunities. Myself/Anna Brismar (left), PhD Student at Aalto University (middle), Sandra Roos at Swerea IVF (right).

At the Conference Dinner, Prof. Rebecca Earley interviews Orsola de Castro about her pioneering redesign and upcycling work. (Photo by Dr. Anna Brismar)

Panel debate at the first Conference day. From right, moderator Phil Hadridge (UK), Prof. Rebecca Earley (UAL), Elin Larsson (Filippa K, Sweden) and Dr Amy Twigger Holroyd (Nottingham Trent University, UK). (Photo by Dr. Anna Brismar)

Elin Larsson, Sustainability Head of Filippa K, shares her vision of a more circular fashion brand (powerpoint image originates from Dr. Kate Goldsworthy’s research work as part of Mistra Future Fashion). (Photo by Dr. Anna Brismar)

Sandra Roos, doctoral student at Swerea IVF in Sweden and theme leader for one of Mistra Future Fashion’s four research themes on supply chains and life cycle assessment (LCA) related to fashion and textiles. (Photo by Dr. Anna Brismar)

Poster, “Circular Fashion Essentials”, by Anna Brismar for the Circular Transitions conference.
Written and published by Anna Brismar, December 20, 2016. (Updated with additional photos on January 10, 2017)