The Textile Environment Design (TED) project at Chelsea was established in 1996 and is a unique collective of practicing designers / educators. The main aim of the Project is to look at the role that the designer can play in creating textiles that have a reduced impact on the environment and to provide a toolbox of designer-centred solutions.

Designers have a crucial role to play in improving the environmental profile of textile production, and research shows that if designers make informed and appropriate design decisions at the outset, then the environmental performance of any product can be improved by up to 80%.

Aims:

In 2003 the TED Resource was established to create a central focal point for all TED research activity, past and present. This is a resource that draws together a collection of fabric and clothing samples, press cuttings, academic papers, research projects and case studies, creating a valuable and original facility for textile designers at every stage of their career. This resource is much needed to take theory into practice. It is used by staff, Associate Lecturers, students, alumni, and designers from our professional contacts. It is a living collection that benefits researchers and designers, and is a resource that they can also contribute to.

TED has also developed a series of possible strategic solutions to assist designers in their decisions. Some are materials and process based including; low toxicity/organics, new technologies, design for recycling and biomimicry and some consider more conceptual approaches such as; lifecycle thinking, fair-trade and ethical production, short life/long life textiles, design for low laundering and systems and services design.

Group Members:

Rebecca Earley (Reader, TED Project)
Becky's most recent research is an exploration of textile upcycling. This includes investigating the use of new technologies for upcycling polyester garments and a three-year AHRC-funded research project on textile upcycling.

Kay Politowicz (Professor in Contemporary Textiles and TED Project leader)
Kay is currently researching conductive and light-giving textiles for interiors.

Lorna Bircham (Course Director, MA Textiles)
Lorna is currently exploring textiles for short-life radiotherapy gowns.

Kathy Round (Senior Lecturer, Chelsea)
Kathy's research explores the use of digital photographic and print techniques to update pre-loved garments into new designs.

Melanie Bowles (Senior Lecturer, Chelsea)
Currently developing digital print techniques onto sustainable base cloths.

Isabel Dodd (Senior Lecturer, Chelsea)
Isabel's current research seeks to explore non-chemical ways of sculpting fabric.

Gary Page (Associate Lecturer, Chelsea)
Gary's recent work includes a collection of transformable garments, which have many lives 'designed in', for a longer life.

Caryn Simonson (Acting BA Course Director and Co-ordinator for Critical Theory)
Caryn's most recent research has been in developing a curated exhibition of textile design work in Second Life (the online 3D virtual social environment).

Clara Vuletich (Research Assistant, TED Project)
Clara's research explores the use of industrial recycled plastic coating technology to protect and extend the life of old textiles.

Kate Goldsworthy (PhD Student)
Kate's research explores the role of new manufacturing processes and digital technologies in creating innovative solutions for recycling synthetic materials.

Jennifer Baille (TFRG PhD student)
Jennifer is researching how to develop a participatory design model to allow consumers to upcycle fashion adding more meaning and value to their wardrobes.

Collaborators:

Dr Frances Geesin (Senior Research Fellow, London College of Fashion)
A specialist in the manipulation of industrial nonwoven and shielding fabrics with electroplating techniques and conductive fabrics.

Dr Emma Neuberg is an artist and designer, who specialises in polymeric materials. She is currently exploring the use of environmentally conscious plastics in her practice.

Marie O'Mahony (Visiting Professor, UAL)
Marie's most recent research is a cross-cultural design project for Santiago Design Week, Chile 2009.