The UK’s First Robotics Living Lab For Fashion Manufacturing Opens At Manchester Metropolitan University
Image By Courtesy of MMU
Manchester, UK – February 2025 - Manchester Metropolitan University has unveiled the Robotics Living Lab (RoLL), the UK’s first dedicated centre for fashion and apparel manufacturing automation.
The £3.8 million facility aims to revolutionise the industry by developing cutting-edge machinery designed to support sustainable and innovative production methods.
The lab marks a significant step forward for British fashion, allowing industry stakeholders to collaborate with robotics experts to create advanced manufacturing techniques that ensure efficiency while reducing environmental impact.
The Robotics Living Lab is the result of years of dedication and vision from a pioneering team led by Susan Postlethwaite, Kat Thiel, and Douglas Atkinson.
This milestone builds on exploratory conversations from as early as 2018, when senior leaders and innovators like Susan began envisioning a future where technology plays a central role in ethical and sustainable garment production.
Susan Postlethwaite, who previously served as a Senior Tutor at the Royal College of Art, shared her thoughts on the lab's opening, saying, “RoLL unlocks an incredible opportunity for both UK fashion designers and manufacturers to reimagine the way clothes are made. This is not only about progress in automation and robotics—it’s about building a more environmentally conscious and economically resilient industry.”
Key Highlights of RoLL:
· Pioneering Innovation for Sustainability The lab’s research and development will focus on methods of manufacturing rooted in environmental responsibility, addressing the urgent need to reduce waste and energy use in fashion production.
· Collaboration and Impact RoLL provides a platform for academics, designers, and industry partners to collaborate, fostering innovations that could redefine global apparel manufacturing.
· First Insights Available To mark the lab’s launch, their first report, "Advancing Automation and Robotics for Sustainable Manufacturing", has been released. The report outlines emerging trends and the future potential of robotics in fashion manufacturing, with insights into its role in creating a circular economy.
The Robotics Living Lab represents Manchester Metropolitan University's commitment to acting as a global leader in creative and industrial innovation.
This breakthrough facility strengthens the UK’s standing in fashion technology and the ongoing pursuit of sustainable practices.
Those interested can download the lab's inaugural report here:
