Dr Kerri Akiwowo
Dr Kerri Akiwowo is a Lecturer in Textiles in the School of Design and Creative Arts at Loughborough University. Her academic practice seeks to embed Equity versus Equality, Diversity and Inclusion discourse to determine Social Impact, through a transdisciplinary approach. Her research and practice within textiles and fashion contexts is globally recognised and spans design, sustainability, fashion technology, materials science and textile engineering fields. She has an MA in Design for Textile Futures from Central Saint Martins (2007) and a PhD in Digital Laser Dyed Textiles from Loughborough University (2015). She has also held the appointment, Senior Lecturer in Printed Textiles at De Montfort University (2009-2010).
Dr Chetna Prajapati
Chetna Prajapati is a Lecturer inTextiles within the Creative Arts at Loughborough, where she has a broad remit spanning research, enterprise and lecturing on the BA (Hons) Textiles: Innovation and Design programme, in addition to supervising post graduate research. Prior to joining Loughborough University in 2018, Chetna held lecturer positions at Chelsea College of Arts, University of the Arts London, where she taught on the BA (Hons) Textile Design, MA TextileDesign and Short Course Programmes. Her industry experience is varied and ranges from creative to technical roles across the fashion and textiles sector. Chetna initially trained as a designer and holds a BA (Hons) in Textile Design from Chelsea College of Arts, University of the Arts London, and a MA in PrintedTextiles from the Royal College of Art.
Kit Neale
Before joining Loughborough, Kit Neale earned international critical and commercial success through the launch of his namesake brand following a diversecareer in fashion and textiles. He was fortunate to work with The British Fashion Council and show at London FashionWeek before going on to craft a successful consultancy career working with several major global brands. He has collaborated and consulted on numerous special projects, including a global soft furnishings range for IKEA and projects with Coca-Cola, Hallmark, Kew Gardens, Lavazza, and Sky. Currently, he is working on a publication alongside his teaching and Programme Leadership post at Loughborough University, and continues to consult with various businesses across the fashion and textile sector.
Emma Wood
Emma Wood is an experienced university lecturer having taught within higher education settings for almost twenty years. Prior to joining Loughborough University in 2019, Emma was a Senior Lecturer in Textile Design at De Montfort University Leicester, leading modules at both undergraduate and post graduate level. Her areas of expertise are woven textiles (Jacquard and Dobby) and design for sustainability, including design methods, materials, and social and environmental impacts of the textile industry.
Emma also has extensive experience as a woven textile design consultant within the contract interiors and transport sector working with clients such as Cathay Pacific, Priestman Goode, Nya Nordiska and Formica. Emma is a fellow of the RSA and an Associate of the Textile Institute.