Key activities of the UKRI AHRC Digital Fashion Network Project kicked off with an industry-academia gathering at BGMEA University of Fashion & Technology (BUFT) in Bangladesh in the morning of the 26th of October 2023. Later in the afternoon, the first digital fashion workshop was organised, which was delivered by the project lead Dr. Abu Sadat Muhammad Sayem of the Manchester Fashion Institute of the Manchester Metropolitan University and hosted by the international co-lead Professor Ayub Nabi Khan from the BUFT. The workshop facilitated an insightful interaction between industry and academia including the academics from BUFT, Northern university Bangladesh and World University Bangladesh, and the designers and professionals from the Zaber & Zubair Fabrics Ltd., Next Sourcing Ltd., Team Sourcing Ltd., Aspire Apparels Ltd., GMS+, Ed-Walters, and Synergy Sourcing Ltd. In total 28 participants attended the workshops.
DFN is a network project (2023-2024) funded by the Arts & Humanities Research Council (AHRC) of the UK Research and Innovation (UKRI). It is forming a global platform to inspire insightful interaction, collaboration and cooperation among the stakeholders from industry and academia of digital fashion. It aims to identify the challenges in adopting digital innovations and areas of further development through a series of online and hybrid activities (webinars, workshops, annual conference, 3D design competition and poster competition etc.).
DFN is inviting the academics, researchers, and professionals from (but not limited to) fashion, business, technology; computer science, software engineering, animation and gaming, anthropometrics, supply chain management and industry 4.0, big data and artificial intelligence, and industrial sustainability to become members and participate in the activities and events taking place in the coming weeks. Anyone interested in digital fashion (1. digital design and e-prototyping, 2. digital business and promotion, 3. digital human and metaverse, and 4. phygital apparel and smart wearable technology) and wants to shape or challenge the future of digital fashion is welcome to complete and submit the membership form- https://forms.office.com/e/hicpyAktvS.
Further details about the project and the future events can be obtained by visit the website https://digitalfashionnetwork.net/ or by emailing at project lead at asm.sayem@mmu.ac.uk.
