Dr Alison Gwilt
Reader in Fashion and Sustainability
a.gwilt@shu.ac.uk
0114 225 6961
Background
Research Statement
Alison is a fashion design academic and researcher exploring sustainable solutions and strategies for fashion and textile design practice. She is interested in challenging the current fashion design paradigm by focusing on the use of positive/sustainable design interventions within the fashion design process. Alison’s research work is practice-led, and she has curated exhibitions and written on a range of issues related to sustainability and fashion. She is keen to engage with fashion companies and professional organisations to build a bridge between the academic institute and the industry so that research work can support and influence change.
Alison is the editor of the book “Shaping Sustainable Fashion” (with Timo Rissanen) published by Earthscan in 2011, and is currently writing a new book, Fashion Design: Sustainability for AVA, which will be published in September 2013. Alison holds the post of Reader in Fashion and Sustainability in the Art and Design Research Centre at Sheffield Hallam University, UK.
Teaching Statement
Alison welcomes research projects in the following areas:
- Sustainability and fashion design; sustainability and the fashion industry; sustainable design strategies; approaches to sustainable fashion
- The fashion design process; new directions for fashion design; new models of fashion design practice
- Fashion as an interdisciplinary practice; user-centred fashion; fashion, health and well-being
Research papers
Please note: Clicking on the links below will take you to the Sheffield Hallam University Research Archive.
GWILT, Alison (2013). Valuing the role of the wearer in the creation of sustainable fashion. Research Journal of Textiles and Apparel, 17 (1), 78-86.
GWILT, Alison (2011). Revealing historic traditions of craftsmanship in the context of sustainable fashion. In: EBEL , Sylvie and ASSOULY, Olivier, (eds.) Proceedings of the 13th annual conference for the international Foundation of Fashion Technology Institutes (IFFTI) Fashion and Luxury: Between Heritage & Innovation. France, Institut Francais de la Mode, 19-24.
GWILT, Alison and RISSANEN, Timo, eds. (2011). Shaping sustainable fashion: changing the way we make and use clothes. London, Earthscan.
GWILT, Alison (2010). Fashioning now. [Show/Exhibition]
GWILT, Alison (2009). Generating sustainable fashion: opportunities, innovation and the creative fashion designer. In: ROUSE, Elizabeth, (ed.) Fashion & well-being?: conference proceedings 2009. London, Centre for Learning and Teaching in Art and Design, University of the Arts London.
GWILT, Alison (2008). Fragments: methodologies Of making fashion. Australia, DAB DOCS, University of Technology, Sydney.