Catching up with LAHRI's new Deputy Director Pammi Sinha

LAHRI's new Deputy Director shares with us what her research interests are, what she is currently working on and what she is going to be doing as LAHRI Deputy Director in 2022.

I trained as a fashion designer and am interested in creative thinking and the craft of making. My MA in fashion design was followed up by a PhD studentship that examined how fashion designers, their creative ideas and practices were managed commercially across the UK women's wear sector. Upon completion in 2000, I used the research to develop teaching strategic fashion design management at the universities of Manchester (2000-2010), Huddersfield (2010-2014) and Leeds, where I arrived in 2014 as an Associate Professor in Fashion Management.

Common throughout my research is the application of creative thinking and adaptation of design practice and processes to particular contexts. My research interests span three interconnected areas: (i) examination of the design process, (ii) the interface between design and technology, and (iii) the global dimensions of managing textiles and clothing that have reached their end of life. I have advised about fashion design and marketing issues for the Creative Industries Development Services/Manchester City Council for St Petersburg Council and undertaken research for the Tanzania Gatsby Trust (part of Sainsburys Charitable Foundation) and the UK Govt/DEFRA (for their Sustainable Clothing Roadmap initiative). Fascinated about our relationship with waste textiles – my research has examined fashion remanufacturing processes, textile recycling companies as well ecolabelling processes.

Textiles in a Dumpsite at Colombo (Nirupama, H., Feb 2020)

My research in waste textiles has taken me to many exciting places – China, Tanzania, Sri Lanka, Blackburn, Dewsbury… My recent research projects have included:  (i) ‘Public engagement in textile waste management in Leeds City Region’, working with the Leeds City Council and Zero Waste Leeds (local social enterprise)(ESRC IAA January – November 2020) and (ii) ‘Examining market development for postconsumer textile products in Colombo, Sri Lanka’ working with the University of Moratuwa, a garment manufacturer, and a local social enterprise. UKRI/Research England GCRF January – December 2020. (Sinha, P., Dissanayke, D. G. K, Abeysooriya, R. P. & Bulathgama, B. H. N. (2021) “Addressing post-consumer textile waste in developing economies”, The Journal of The Textile Institute, DOI: 10.1080/00405000.2021.1954428).

Over the next six months as Acting Deputy Director I will be working closely with the team in supporting LAHRI post doctoral fellows through one to one meetings, seminars and workshops for early career funding, supporting and delivering AHRC Workshops; attendance of Faculty Ethics Committee, the AHRC Strategy Group and Culture Research Advisory Group and various activities associated with LAHRI funding schemes, typically around peer-review & support.