Radio show goes beyond the catwalk to examine the issues facing fashion

A radio show from the University of Northampton will investigate why there’s much more to fashion than just looking good.

Shout To The Top is a monthly programme on NLive Radio, hosted by University Vice Chancellor, Professor Nick Petford.

The theme of this month’s edition, which airs at 7pm on Wednesday 2 June, is fashion – and the key issues facing the industry.

Senior Lecturer in Fashion, Gavin Douglas will be in the studio to talk about the role of diversity in the industry and fashion education. In 2020, Gavin set up a mentoring scheme for black fashion students at UON, which aims to help them overcome the systemic barriers that cause the underrepresentation of leading black designers within the UK fashion industry.

Gavin’s colleague and fellow Senior Lecturer in Fashion, Emmeline Child, will also be chatting to Nick about the environmental impact of fast fashion. With almost 20 years of experience in sustainability in fashion and textiles, Emmeline has become a pioneer in sustainable issues around upcycling.

With the annual Graduate Fashion Week showcase of UK universities’ best student designers almost upon us, Nick will also speak to undergraduates Natasha Finlay and Jonathan Goddard. Both have had their work shortlisted for Graduate Fashion Week awards, and will be talking to Nick about the inspiration behind their designs. They’ll also be joined by the University’s Textiles for Fashion Programme Leader, Jane Mills.

Meanwhile, Dr Mike Redwood will be outlining the importance of the leather industry to fashion. Dr Redwood spent several years passing on his knowledge to students at the University’s Institute for Creative Leather Technologies, where he was a Visiting Professor.

It won’t be an exclusively UON affair, however, as Nick will also be talking to Northampton-based fashion footwear designer, Guy West. Guy went from selling shoes in a market to co-founding the internationally renowned Jeffery-West shoe brand.

Shout To The Top airs from 7pm on the first Wednesday of every month, on NLive Radio. Listen via the website – or if you are in Northampton, on 106.9FM. The show is also available as a podcast on iTunes.