Dr Mark Sumner sustainable fashion lecturer at Leeds University

Dr Mark Sumner is well placed to share his knowledge and expertise on the podcast, and to offer advice to anyone with a passion for fashion, who wants to ensure they are putting sustainable and ethical practices at the heart of their chosen profession.

Mark's own career has taken him from training as a quantity surveyor to studying first physics, then a doctorate in textile engineering. He joined renowned retailer Marks & Spencer, where he worked as a textile technologist and while he was there, studied for an Open University degree in environmental science, becoming a leading sustainability specialist for the firm.

He left retail to join the University of Leeds School of Design and became the lead lecturer focussing on sustainability, textile, clothing and the fashion industry. Despite a busy life, he still publishes research papers, most recently on the influence of yarn characteristics on microfibre release from knitted fabrics during laundering.

"We can't talk about sustainability in a vacuum," Mark says.

In this episode, Mark discusses:

• the ethics of fashion
• its impact on the environment
• global supply chains
• and how at least 400 million workers across the globe depend on fashion being bought and sold.

These are topics covered on the Sustainable Fashion BA, but Mark is just as keen for students to bring their own questions to the course and challenge current thinking as they become the future of fashion.

Mentioned in this podcast

University of Leeds School of Design BA Sustainable Fashion Programme

United Nations (UN) Sustainable Development Goals and (SDG) 8

Marks & Spencer sustainability practices

University of Leeds School of Design

The Leeds Institute of Textiles and Colour

About ProGRESS

Host Sandra Kessell invites guests to discuss their Green, Ethical, Sustainable and Socially responsible jobs, courses or activities and asks for real-world insights into the pathways and careers that led to them.

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Expect revelations, lightbulb moments and an informative listen on ProGRESS, with plenty of insights as guests explain how and why got into their Green, Ethical, Sustainable and Socially Responsible career or course (the GRESS of ProGRESS) with plenty of tips if you want to do the same.

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