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Inspiring students to consider all aspects of product development from fibre to fabric to garment

In the first of our ongoing University Guest Lecture and Class Project Series, Claire O’Neill, Hyosung European Marketing Manager, delivered a guest lecture to students in the Contour Fashion BA program at the prestigious De Montfort University (DMU) on February 17^th at its Leicester, England campus. 

Established in 1947, the Contour Fashion at De Montfort University has a global reputation for developing talented new generations of intimate apparel designers and communicators. With influential industry connections and wider fashion affiliations, the course encourages innovation with an emphasis on sustainability. Their graduates demonstrate aesthetic design skills and technical innovation in the fields of lingerie, corsetry, swimwear, nightwear, loungewear, menswear, sportswear, athleisure, and medical applications.

Claire, whose experience spans more than three decades in the textile industry with valuable experience gained at companies such as Speedo, VF Corporation, Bravissimo, presented a lecture titled The Power of Ingredient Fibres- Desirable, Technical, Sustainable with the objective of inspiring students to consider all aspects of the product from fibre, fabric, and garment to enhance their work.

Students heard about our exciting portfolio of fibres creora® spandex and specialty nylon and polyester fibres that deliver sought-after technical benefits such as cooling, enhanced stretch and recovery, excellent dye-ability and colour fastness, chlorine resistance with added durability as well as anti-microbial options. 

Sustainable fibres play an important role in the Hyosung product offering and Claire explained the vital role those environmental considerations play in design decisions, and how our range of 100% recycled fibres with GRS certification help provide sustainable textile solutions. Through our Hyosung’s Fashion Design (FDC) Trend insights, students learned how ingredient fibres play an important part in delivering consumer needs.

“It was wonderful being in the university environment again! It feels really good to be giving something back in terms of sharing knowledge and hopefully encouraging more curiosity about our fibres,” said O’Neill. 

According to Rachel Toner, Programme Leader for Contour Fashion and Contour Fashion Communication, it is very beneficial to have experts from the textile and fashion field to share ‘real-life’ experience and material insight to the students.

“Claire brought a wealth of fibre technology information that is so needed for students to understand when choosing textiles for the garments they are designing,” said Toner. “Contour Fashion is a unique apparel segment that requires knowledge of fabric features and benefits to ensure the garments perform as desired. We look forward to working with Claire on a student project for next year.” 

DMU students actively work with major international companies such as Gymshark, Panache Lingerie, Calvin Klein, H&M, Clover International, Victoria’s Secret, Stretchline and Hunkemoller and many others. The graduates from this course are employed across the globe as designers, technical specialists, and communicators. Entrepreneurship is encouraged with some graduates establishing their own successful brand labels.

Stay tuned for our next Guest Lecture and Class Project Series that will be held soon at the London School of Fashion and the Fashion Institute of Technology in NYC coming soon.