Space@Design Gallery, Clothworkers Central, School of Design, University of Leeds, LS2 9JT.

01.05.25 - 21.05.25.

Explore the future of fashion while revisiting its storied past. Wearing Sustainability unravels the intertwined narratives of history, digital innovation, and sustainability, offering fresh perspectives on fashion’s evolution.

This immersive exhibition features treasures from the Yorkshire Fashion Archive, sustainable fashion designs by Cunnington & Sanderson, and visionary student work from BA Fashion Design Innovation. Explore fashion through Augmented Reality (AR) try-ons with SEAMM, which allow you to experience garments digitally, and delve into the journey of each piece with SMARTDigital Product Passports (DPPs)—a glimpse into a more transparent future.

Unpicking threads from untouchable garments from the past to discover inspiring sustainable processes that can influence future design.

Through focus groups and surveys, the exhibition gathers insights to inform a future research project, setting the stage for industry-wide change. Discover how digital fashion—from customisation to wearables—can shape a more responsible, innovative industry.

Key themes invite you to consider:

• Can AR try-ons revolutionise shopping and reduce waste?
• How can digital experiences inspire better clothing care?
• Could digital fashion satisfy the craving for newness sustainably?
• Are DPPs the key to changing consumer behaviour?

Experience modern technology and wear the garments on display though your own mobile phone with the magical experience of AR Try-On which transforms physical wardrobes into multiple virtual worlds and metaverses.

Be a part of this enlightening, educational and interactive exhibition, which includes influencial and emotive storytelling about fashion restoration, recycling, reuse, reduce, zero waste and digital fashion.

All visitors will get the rare and exclusive opportunity to wear sustainability during their visit to this inspiring exhibit, with the chance to share their own creativity with the world through the power of social media.

The Multi-Award Winning fashion brand based in Yorkshire will display multiple garments including the 'Gown of Care' a high fashion garment created from disposed PPE medical gowns in collaboration with @ppe_refashioned. A denim dress made from pre-loved jeans, educational clothes created from innovative zero waste pattern cutting, the emotive story-telling pillow dress as well as digital wearables which visitors can customise and virtually try on. Winners of the grand prize at the International Festival Hyeres in france, and the On|Off LandRover Visionary Award in london. This British design duo has worked at Givenchy in Paris, collaborated with Creed Perfume and proudly presenting their creations at Paris, London & Milan Fashion Week. These skillfully crafted and sustainable garments have featured in International magazines such as Vogue, Elle, Dazed, WWD, SPOON Magazine and exhibited in museums and galleries, and social media challenges like the #pillownarrative @cunningtonandsanderson

As pioneers of zero waste fashion, the design duo enjoy teaching their unique draping techniques and creative pattern cutting at their own masterclass workshops presented at Universities aound the world @no_wasted_jam .

An interdisciplinary School bringing together expertise afrom a range of design and technology specialisms. Creation and innovation are at the heart of both their teaching and research as they aim to develop new design ideas and provide solutions to iussues faced within the industry.

On display will be selected works from current fashion design students.

Garments from the Yorkshire Fashion Archives will be available to see up close, highlighting the garments craftsmanship, history, the garment maker, who the garment was made for, the fabric composition and the eco friendly sustainable qualities.

This specially selected, precious and untouchable garment will be made into a digital wearable. Thanks to the advance technology by SEAMM, every visitor will get the rare opportunity to wear this lovingly made garment, along with other high end fashion in the exhibit, with the use of a mobile phone and AR Try-On technology. Furthermore visitors pictures and selfies will be on display on social media and on a live wall within the exhibit to promote sustainability, creativitity, community interaction and innovation.

First fully phygital fashion marketplace. Supporting Independent and emerging brands that care about sustainability. Seamlessly blending the physical and digital worlds.

Learn about Digital Product Passports and how they will play a major role in the future of fashion sustainability.

Smart DPP is a straightforward, one-click solution for digital product passports, tailored for brands. It seamlessly integrates with any ERP system without requiring technical expertise and can be easily implemented using NFC tags, QR codes, or engagement pages, with or without blockchain support (including multichain options). Smart DPP not only boosts sales by up to 70% through an integrated loyalty program but also significantly enhances transparency, increasing conversion rates and reducing returns. It strengthens the brand’s commitment to sustainability by providing customers with clear, accessible product information, enabling them to make informed choices. With Smart DPP, users can view details on water and electricity usage and trace the sourcing of materials, promoting eco-conscious decisions.

What are you wearing today? what story does your clothes tell? are your clothes sustainable? do you know what the fabric composition is and where the garment was made?

We hope this exhibition will make you question your wardrobe, learn and understand sustainable processes and appreciate and cherish your clothes, inspiring you to be innovative with your own fashion choices and how you can make them more environmentally friendly.

Competition - Every day during the exhibition someone will win a digital wearable featured in the exhibition. To enter simply post a picture wearing a digital garment from the exhibition, share onto the Instagram feature wall by tagging @wearing_sustainability and #wearsustainability or download the free Cunnington & Sanderson App on Apple App Store or Google Play to wear and experience the Digital Fashion AR Try-On.

Join us and be part of fashion's sustainable transformation.