The Textile Institute has members in all sectors of fibre-based industries worldwide. Special Interest Groups provide a focus for members in different sectors, and many of them organise conferences, study tours and other events in their subject area.

Fashion and Technology Special Interest Group (SIG)

A Special Interest Group Committee has been formed to represent and support members involved with the clothing and apparel industries.

Aims

• To raise the profile of apparel fashion and technology within The Textile Institute
• To recruit new members from this sector, and encourage re-instatement of previous members
• To disseminate information and provide a forum for debate

Committee Officers

• Chairman Jeni Bougourd
• Vice Chairman David Tyler
• Secretary Bill Bohm

Report back on Activities, February 2006

The group has had nine meetings at various locations in the UK since its formation in July 2004. We decided we would in the main confine our activities to the UK, but would keep members informed across the world, and encourage as much feed back as possible. We would also like to encourage members interested in fashion and technology, but living outside the UK, to form similar groupings with which we could liaise. To summarise the main issues on which we have been working:

1. We felt there was insufficient attention in our magazines to fashion and technology issues, and we have therefore drawn up a schedule of articles. We warmly welcome the new issue of ‘Textiles’ and will try to ensure a steady stream of material relating to fashion and technology to be sent to the editor. We would also like to encourage the submission of articles from across the world. Please send in the first instance to our secretary Bill Bohm. (bill@bohm.fsnet.co.uk)
2. We decided we would not try to run events such as conferences or meetings ourselves, at least not during the early stages of our work. But we would encourage local sections in the UK – and elsewhere in the world – to initiate events that would appeal to members, and importantly also, to non members, interested in our specialist areas. We are therefore trying to establish liaison with as many local section committees as possible, to promote this idea.
3. We are establishing links with other organisations, such as other professional institutes and employers’ associations. For example, we have established a liaison group with the Society of Dyers and Colourists, and the Association of Suppliers to the British Clothing Industry to look at issues of training in the skills of clothing product development, especially for the retail sector. We would welcome feed back from other parts of the world about organisations that you think we should correspond with.
4. We remain keen to promote membership amongst anyone working in the fashion and technology area whether as students or lecturers in universities, teachers in schools, managers and technologists in industry and retail, and especially as researchers in any of these types of organisation. If you are a member already, please encourage non member colleagues to join or get in touch
5. Lastly, we are seeking ways to develop the Textile Institute web site so that it can really reflect the views of professionals in fashion and technology across the world. The possibilities here are immense and we welcome feedback from you on what you think should be the way forward.

Suggestions about possible activities for the Group, or general enquiries, are welcome from anyone interested in this sector. Please address by email to the Secretary: billbohm@textileinstitute.org.