Alexandra Weatherby
I’m extremely interested in circular and regenerative design processes, particularly focusing on fibre development, colour processing/dye alternatives & technological innovations (e.g., bacterial/enzyme-based dyes), zero waste fabric development technology – specifically knitwear, such as Stoll/Shima’s technologies, fibre/garment recycling services/technology, and biodegradable/compostable fabric/fibre development. I’m interested in anything regarding our fashion industry, sustainability and any research into new developments/technology that are striving to positively influence real change.
My strengths and expertise include thorough understanding of yarn fibres, through my university project – dip-dyeing natural un-dyed knitted fabrics to explore the response of the application of colour to yarn fibres. I also have a strong understanding of knitwear and its immense capabilities to provide zero waste fabrics and fully-fashioned, customisable clothing – with the opportunity to unravel the garment at the end of its lifecycle and spin the waste yarn onto a cone – to allow for it to be knitted into a completely new product or garment. I am a passionate sustainability, environmental and social impact advocate/activist, and thanks to my persistently inquisitive and curious nature – I am always willing to un-learn and re-learn new information / research developments / science / technology with regards to sustainability and supporting and positively impacting our planet, its people, and our fashion industry.
- Listing ID: 2850
- Contact: Alexandra Weatherby
- What are your aspirations and plans for the future?: I plan to set up my own sustainable, circular fashion business that focuses on creating fully biodegradable garments, by using merino wool fully-fashioned zero-waste knitted fabrics and dip-dyeing them with non-toxic, sustainable/circular dyes, hand-sewing them with matching dip-dyed merino wool yarns, and hand-sewing biodegradable garment labels. I would also be interested in developing my designs once I’ve started off, to use 100% recycled and recyclable yarn fibres such as viscose or nylons, and collaborating/partnering with garment/yarn recycling companies such as Worn Again Technologies to transform a garment into a cone of yarn, ready to create something new again and again, however this is something I would have to look into further as I’m not sure if this aligns with my values, even though it would be circular – I would prefer to create something that leaves absolutely no trace if it were to be dumped in landfill…). I also plan on either working for sustainable designers/circular companies and then working on my business on the side, or simply collaborating/partnering with them through my brand. I also am very interested in completing an MA/PHD in circular/regenerative processes, similar to Ruth Lloyd (mentioned below), but I would like to further explore fibre and yarn developments. I also plan on becoming a university lecturer/professor in the future as I love helping and educating others on topics that I’m passionate about, and I know this aligns with my values both as a sustainability advocate, a designer and as a person – as this would be my way of giving back to our industry by helping to encourage and re-enforce real change within our future generations.
- What types of projects are you interested in working on through Future Fashion Factory?: Anything regarding sustainability and working towards positively impacting our industry, e.g. research projects into fibre recycling technologies/innovations (such as Worn Again Technologies), or collaborating with likeminded individuals to enforce these sustainable innovations into main-stream education/companies/the industry (e.g. collaborating with MA RCA 2021 graduate Ruth Lloyd who developed bacterial-based microbial pigments and patterns to provide sustainable, circular and regenerative colour and dye systems).
