George Brown College receives grant for fashion research program

By

Jennifer Braun

Published
Mar 7, 2018

The George Brown College Fashion Exchange (FX) has received about $1 million in funding for a new research program that will further aim to help transform the apparel industry in Ontario.

 
Dubbed Leading through Innovation in Fashion Technologies (FX LIFT), the research program marks the second phase of the college's vision for FX, a fashion program that was launched at the college last March with a mission to train and educate candidates in apparel manufacturing.
 
Through FX LIFT, the college will further aim to help Canadian apparel businesses.

The funding, received from the Ministry of Research, Innovation and Science, will specifically help fund research equipment and facilities for the program.
 
"The support provided by the Ontario College-Industry Research funding allows FX to expand research capabilities in partnership with Ontario companies to innovate further in smart textiles, wearables, textile waste recycling, new manufacturing processes and digital design," explained Marilyn McNeil-Morin, Director at the Fashion Exchange, in a news statement.
 
“FX LIFT will drive Fashion 4.0 forward by providing the $6.2B fashion and textile sectors with the technology-enabled tools, processes and highly skilled workforce to reshore manufacturing, innovate faster, enhance productivity and competiveness, and reduce post-consumer waste,” added Dawn Davidson, Associate Vice President of Research and Innovation at George Brown College.
 
The fashion hub currently offers two programs that train participants, in either Industrial Power Sewing or Apparel Fit Technician.