Barbara Shepherd
Reader in Fashion Business
I am a Reader in Fashion Business .
I work across the Manchester Metropolitan University with academic colleagues to deliver business development and research opportunities for industry partners and students.
I am a Commercial Director and Academic, with board-level experience of working in British fashion across all major UK High Street retailers specialising in co-ordinating and developing “New Business” opportunities for both Home and Garment textile multi-line manufacturing businesses.
I am recognised as a sector specialist for garment manufacture and with an experienced understanding of both UK and global supply chain management for the fashion and textile sector.
I have recently led a successful KTP in Wearable Technology in the Sportswear sector.
I am currently working on a regional project working on the effective recycling of textile waste
I have developed and run the Sponsored Masters Programme that was originally developed as a way of providing Employability Skills Training for Masters students in the Manchester Fashion Institute.
Academic Qualifications
2014 MAAP – Masters in Academic Practice with Merit - Manchester Metropolitan University
2012 PGCAP – Post Graduate Diploma in Academic Practice- Manchester Metropolitan University
1988 BA(Hons) Home Economics - University of Ulster
Professional Qualifications
2018 CText FTI – Fellow of the Textile Institute
2017 SFHEA – Senior Fellow of the Higher Education Authority
2014 SFHEA – Fellow of the Higher Education Authority
2009 C.Text.ATI – Associate of the Textile Institute
Previous Employment
My background includes more than 25 years in garment manufacturing and supply, to the leading UK High Street retailers. This has involved bulk manufacturing of all major product sectors for the market leaders in the UK. I have extensive global sourcing experience and have worked with both UK and Off Shore manufacturers.
Consultancy and advisory roles
2021 Textiles 2030 - Appointed to the Policy Working Group https://wrap.org.uk/taking-action/textiles/initiatives/textiles-2030 Expert-led initiative, harnessing the knowledge and expertise of UK leaders in sustainability to accelerate the whole fashion and textiles industry’s move towards circularity and system change in the UK.
2021 Governments Apprenticeship Programme- Appointed as an Independent End Point Assessor (Textiles & Fashion)
2021 Appointed to Steering Group for the Cabinet appointed PPE Cell –UK Make
2020 GMCA – Appointed to PPE Work stream of GM Recovery Plan post COVID
2020 EPSRC E Textiles Network –Appointed Chair of the Steering Group
2017 Government Appointed Textile Specialist Assessor
2016 Appointed garment CMT expert –Regional Growth Fund (RG6)
Government and industry links
PUBLIC SECTOR
HMPPS - Prison Industries – Textile Division
GMP- Greater Manchester Police
NHS - Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust
GMCA -Sustainable Consumption Action Plan Team
Business Growth Hub - manufacturing and access to finance
AMPI -advanced machinery and productivity institute
https://www.ampi.org.uk/
InvestNI
Innovate UK
KTN -Knowledge Transfer Network -Textiles and Smart Materials
PRIVATE SECTOR
Retail -Fashion
Marks and Spencer
NEXT
Dunnes Stores
Speedo
Canterbury Sportswear
Puma
Kymira -Wearable Tech -Sportswear
Retail -Non Fashion
Autotrader
Manufacturers/Suppliers
English Fine Cottons
Charities
British Stroke Association
Trade Associations
Textile Institute
BTMA -British Textile Machinery Association
Textile Recycling Association
UKFT
Prizes and awards
Internal Awards
2010 – Shortlisted Outstanding Teaching for Employability
2012 – Nominated -Best Overall Teacher & Outstanding Teaching for Employability
2013 – Shortlisted Outstanding Teaching for Employability
2013 – Winner – MMU KEIF funding award -Fashion start Up Label -Andrea Zapp -The School of Art
2013 – Joint Winner – MMU Knowledge Exchange Award -Hollings Faculty-Fashion Start Up Label with Andrea Zapp -School of Art
2014 – Shortlisted Outstanding Teaching for Employability
2014 – Winner – MMU Knowledge Exchange Award -Hollings Faculty -Body Scanning Research for Fashion Retailing
2015 -Finalist UKTI- Greater China Achievement in International Trade Awards-Education Links Award
2015 – Winner – MMU Knowledge Exchange Award -Hollings Faculty -Body Scanning Research for Canterbury Sportswear
Expert reviewer for external funding bodies
2017- Present UK Government appointed assessor for Manufacturing
Membership of professional associations
2023 Textile lead for the GM Sustainable Textile & Fashion Group (Working regionally to locate a Textile Recycling Demonstrator plant in the NW-)
2022 - Appointed to the Steering committee of the Textile Institute
2021 - Textiles 2030™ - Appointed to the Policy Working Group https://wrap.org.uk/taking-action/textiles/initiatives/textiles-2030 A Founding Signatory of WRAP’s science-led Textiles 2030 initiative,
2021 - Appointed to Steering Group for the Cabinet appointed PPE Cell – UK Make
2021 - Governments Apprenticeship Programme- Appointed as an Independent End Point Assessor (Textiles & Fashion)
2020 - Chair of the E-Textiles Network Steering committee www.e-textiles-network.com
2020 - GMCA - Appointed to PPE Work stream of GM Recovery Plan post COVID.
Undergraduate teaching
I teach on a number of undergraduate courses focusing on all of the aspects relating to Fashion Finance and the understanding of the global supply chain in relation to the industry sector.
Postgraduate research supervision
I work as an academic supervisor across the Masters Programmes at the Institute.
Press and media appearances or contributions
2023 GM Fashion & Textiles Network
https://fashioninstitute.mmu.ac.uk/news/item/?id=15787
2021 – My response at MFI to the Pandemic
This has acutely raised my profile and that of the Manchester Fashion Institute in relation to my external profile and the role that Manchester Met has had in supporting the needs of the NHS to secure suitable PPE.I have developed strong working relationships regionally as a direct result of my work which I will use to the benefit of Manchester Met and the regional response for UK made PPE going forward
https://www.pat.nhs.uk/news/GM-Mayor-praises-Manchester-Metropolitan-UniversitysFashion-Institute-innovation-and-support-for-frontline-NHS-workers.htm
https://www2.mmu.ac.uk/news-and-events/news/story/?id=12271
MMU latest press release on Government policy related to recommendations for UK PPE
procurement going forward post COVID-19
https://www.mmu.ac.uk/news-and-events/news/story/12429
June 2020 MMU press release on Government policy related to recommendations for UK PPE procurement going forward post COVID-19
https://www.mmu.ac.uk/news-and-events/news/story/12429/
May 2020 - Interviewed by BBC Radio Manchester re PPE response to COVID-19 pandemic
https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p08b4w10
Programme starts at 2pm so you will need to scroll through 2 hours to find 4pm news bulletins
Research
Research Interests
Garment Manufacture
Fashion & Textile Waste
PPE - Pandemic Response
Fashion Sustainability
Wearable Technology
Academic collaborations
2023
• Sustainable Solutions for Textiles & Fashion Plus (SUSTAIN+) £2M Collaborative Bid with UoM
• The Future Fashion and Textiles Network (FFTN) £2M- Collaborative bid with Bristol University
2022 UKRI Circular fashion programme: recycling and sorting demonstrator - Innovate UK KTN
https://ktn-uk.org/opportunities/ukri-circular-fashion-programme-recycl…Textile Recycling Association +MFI/S&E /Psychology
2021 EPSRC Funded project with Imperial/RCA/MFI/ UoM /Kymira
UKRI - Adventurous manufacturing round one: follow-on funding SUSTEX: Sustainable Electronic Textile Manufacturing
2021 EPSRC Funded project with S&E
Manufacturing Made Smarter Innovation Hub – Digital Supply Chain
DISCOVER (DigItal_Supply_Chain_innOVation_nEtwoRk) hub’s vision is to drive UK manufacturing productivity by scaling the development of digital supply chains (DSC) technologies through an industry-led consortium providing an open network that will support innovation and provide specialist DSC expertise to all UK manufacturing sectors defined in the Made Smarter Review. DISCOVER will leverage its active role within the existing MS programme and involvement in foreign national programmes such as Germany’s Industrie 4.0, International Organisations (IIC) and international standards bodies (IEEE).
2021 EPSRC Funded project with S&E
Sustainable additive manufacturing facilitated via an innovative Electrochemically driven depolymerisation technology (STAMPEDE)
2021 SBRI - Healthcare -NHS/MFI/GMCA/GMHSCP
Better PPE: Design, manufacture, and evaluation of fit-for-purpose personal protective equipment for frontline healthcare staff
2020 AHRC - MFI/HPSC/S&E/GMCA/MFT
Fit for Purpose: A regional model for co-designing, producing, and evaluating effective and affective PPE (FFP) Research and innovation ideas to address Covid-19
Grants
2022-2024 - KTP Award with KYMIRA ( Sportswear Tech Business )
Innovate UK - Overall Assessment - Very Good
To embed process and product innovation to extend in-house design potential and engineering capabilities, improve manufacturing efficiency and enable sustainable growth in target sectors -
2023
• Sustainable Solutions for Textiles & Fashion Plus (SUSTAIN+) £2M Collaborative Bid with UoM
• The Future Fashion and Textiles Network (FFTN) £2M- Collaborative bid with Bristol University
2022 UKRI Circular fashion programme: recycling and sorting demonstrator - Innovate UK KTN
https://ktn-uk.org/opportunities/ukri-circular-fashion-programme-recycling-and-sorting-demonstrator/Textile Recycling Association +MFI/S&E /Psychology
2021 EPSRC Funded project with Imperial/RCA/MFI/ UoM /Kymira
UKRI - Adventurous manufacturing round one: follow-on funding SUSTEX: Sustainable Electronic Textile Manufacturing
2021 EPSRC Funded project with S&E
Manufacturing Made Smarter Innovation Hub – Digital Supply Chain
DISCOVER (DigItal_Supply_Chain_innOVation_nEtwoRk) hub’s vision is to drive UK manufacturing productivity by scaling the development of digital supply chains (DSC) technologies through an industry-led consortium providing an open network that will support innovation and provide specialist DSC expertise to all UK manufacturing sectors defined in the Made Smarter Review. DISCOVER will leverage its active role within the existing MS programme and involvement in foreign national programmes such as Germany’s Industrie 4.0, International Organisations (IIC) and international standards bodies (IEEE).
2021 EPSRC Funded project with S&E (£1.3M)
Sustainable additive manufacturing facilitated via an innovative Electrochemically driven depolymerisation technology (STAMPEDE)
2021 SBRI - Healthcare -NHS/MFI/GMCA/GMHSCP
Better PPE: Design, manufacture, and evaluation of fit-for-purpose personal protective equipment for frontline healthcare staff
2020 AHRC - MFI/HPSC/S&E/GMCA/MFT
Fit for Purpose: A regional model for co-designing, producing, and evaluating effective and affective PPE (FFP) Research and innovation ideas to address Covid-19
Projects and initiatives
Regional Initiative
2023 Textile lead for the GM Sustainable Textile & Fashion Group (Working regionally to address local textile waste challenges in the North West.
https://fashioninstitute.mmu.ac.uk/news/item/?id=15787
2016 - Present - University Initiative
Designed and developed a Sponsored Masters Programme (SMP) which is now on a university wide roll out plan which offers Taught Masters students invaluable opportunities to conduct “real-world” research and provides direct benefits for the companies that partner on the programme.
2024 Kuppd Phase 4 - Health Innovation Manchester -Funded by Innovate UK BUILD programme.
The purpose of this award would be to undergo the final prototyping and testing needed to launch Kuppd(r) as a minimum viable product in the post mastectomy and transfemme markets, improving on competitor product in areas of fit, environmental benefits and inclusivity.
2022 Kuppd Phase 3 - Health Innovation Manchester
Phase 3 – Design and Prototyping of EBP (External Breast Prosthesis) Incorporating 3D Printing Technology.
The project will utilise 3D Digital Body Scan Data & Qualitative Data from Phase 2 & Proof of Concept from Phase 1.
2022 Kuppd Phase 2 - Health Innovation Manchester
To utilise 3D body scanning to produce suitable technical files, generated from a sample of post-mastectomy women, which could be used as an input file for 3D printing.
2022 Gait Analysis for verification tests for the user requirements of Kymiras
Panthion smart garment ( Follow on KTP Work )
The project will involve a four-stage process which will include Participant recruitment - Pilot set up pre-data collection - Data Collection – Data processing
2022 Upcycling Festival Tents & NHS Curtains to provide a clothing solution for the homeless in Manchester - (Sponsored Masters Programme 2022)
2021 Manchester City Football Shirts (£9K Funded KE Evaluation)- Rekit -Upcycling redundant Manchester City football shirts to reduce paediatric distress and anxiety in hospital https://www.mancity.com/news/club/hospital-gowns-63755281
2020 NHS Redesign of PPE Plastic Apron (Funded KE Evaluation)-‘Fit for purpose’:
Exhibitions
2022 ExhibitionSubmission
People of Manchester -Recycling redundant festival tents and NHS textile waste to design life-enhancing solutions for the homeless in Manchester, UK.
Futurescan 5: Conscious Communities-7th-8th September 2022-University of Leeds, UK
Exhibitions
Shepherd, B., 2022. Association of Fashion & Textile courses -Future Scan Futurescan 5: Conscious Communities 7th-8th September 2022University of Leeds, UK, University of Leeds, 7/9/2022 - 8/9/2022.
Book Chapters
Ledbury, J., Hall, N., Shepherd, B., Parker, L., 2024. 'Safer custody clothing: designing clothing for female prisoners at risk of self-harm'. In Functional Textiles and Clothing, Springer.
Conference Papers
Shepherd, B., Collins, S., 2022. 'Rekit -Upcycling redundant Manchester City football shirts to reduce paediatric distress and anxiety in hospital.', 25/10/2022 - 27/10/2022, in Yes.
Shepherd, B., Collins, S., 2022. 'Rekit -Upcycling redundant Manchester City football shirts to reduce paediatric distress and anxiety in hospital.', 25/10/2021 - 27/10/2022.
Shepherd, B., Croston, M., Jones, M., 2020. 'PPE Sustainable Design Evaluation in a Clinical Setting', The Second International Congress on Sustaianability in Textiles and Fashion, Institute Of Advanced Studies -University of Sao Paulo, 2/11/2020 - 4/11/2020.
Ledbury, J., Shepherd, B., Hall, N., Parker, L., 2017. 'Safer custody clothing: designing clothing for female prisoners at risk of self-harm', Functional Textiles and Clothing Conference, New Delhi, India, 9/2/2018 - 12/2/2018.
Presentations
Collins, S.K., Shepherd, B., 2018. 'User Centred Design: Framework for Student Practice', Manchester Metropolitan University.
Office Location
Room C 2.39
Cavendish South
Manchester Fashion Institute
Manchester Metropolitan University
Cavendish Street
Manchester M15 6BG
Office Hours
Tuesday/Wednesday/Thursday