Recently at Loughborough University Cotton USA has announced the successful close to its first innovation competition in the UK, in partnership with the textiles innovation and design school. The competition was meant to provide opportunity for students to work innovatively with high-quality US cotton fabrics.
Running in partnership with the university’s Textiles: Innovation and Design programme, which was recently rated the leading university for fashion and textiles in the Guardian University Guide 2018 for the third time in four years, the competition worked with second year students who specialised in both textiles and fabrics.
The competition gave them guidance on how to develop new and innovative ways of working with US cotton, while encouraging them to be as creative as possible within an allocated budget. After six weeks of exemplary work, Cotton USA announced the winner of the Innovation Competition as Lucy Dennis, and the three runners-up as Emily Brennan, Alice Charter and Sophie Tresadern.
The winning submissions were judged and announced by a panel of experts from Cotton USA and Loughborough University at a special ceremony. In addition to the support provided by Cotton USA throughout the competition, it will continue to work with the winner and runners-up to promote their talents to a network of professionals across the industry. The competition has given all participants a number of opportunities to demonstrate their technical knowledge, while also elevating the profile of their creative designs.
Kerry Walton, programme director of textiles: innovation and design at Loughborough University says that the company is delighted to have worked with Cotton USA on the innovation competition and is committed to providing the students with the right opportunities to help them thrive, and outstanding, relevant insight into the world of contemporary textiles.
Loughborough is one of the country’s leading universities, with an international reputation for research that matters, excellence in teaching and strong links with industry. It has been awarded five stars in the independent QS Stars University rating scheme, putting it among the best universities in the world.
