Textile Design student wins design competition

Final year BA (Hons) Textile Design student Joe Gurr has won the Northern heat of the Society of Dyers and Colourists (SDC) International Design Competition.

This year’s competition, ‘Climate Threads’ invited participants to respond to the challenges of climate change through innovative textile design, combining creativity with sustainability and commercial awareness. 

Focusing on the evolving definition of luxury, Joe investigated next-generation, plant-based materials, with a particular emphasis on Malai, a biodegradable material derived from waste coconut water, as a sustainable alternative to traditional leather. Through a series of material led explorations including laser etching, printing, weaving, and surface manipulation, the project demonstrated how sustainable materials can move beyond imitation to establish their own distinct aesthetic and functional value.