UK will host a fashion industry conference ‘The Emperor's New Clothes’ at the University of Leeds in the North of England on September 8. It will enable participants to explore points of difference, challenge myths and preconceptions, and consider alternative approaches for a more sustainable fashion and textiles future. The conference is organised by researchers from the School of Design at the University of Leeds and will host speakers and attendees from a diverse range of backgrounds, industry and academia, design and technology, micro enterprises and industrial giants.

Among the speakers is Dr Alison Gwilt, Reader in fashion and sustainability at Sheffield Hallam University, who is a fashion design researcher, author and consultant who explores and promotes a range of innovative design methods and approaches that seek to enable the fashion and textiles community to adopt more sustainable and ethical practices.

Professor William Young teaches sustainability and business, and is co-director of the sustainability research institute at the University of Leeds. William's research is focused on consumer behavior around sustainability issues. He will be talking about the mainstreaming of sustainability issues in consumer attitudes along with some behaviors and how retailers and consumer-citizens are filling the void being left by slow government action.

The keynote address will be by Kate Fletcher, a professor of sustainability, design and fashion at London College of Fashion. Kate has written more than 50 scholarly and popular publications in the fashion field.