Becky de Lacy is a Senior Lecturer in Fashion Design at the Manchester Fashion Institute, MMU. Combining her industry experience with traditional and conceptual design approaches she initiates, develops and delivers high quality teaching and learning at Undergraduate and Master’s level.

Academic and professional qualifications

Becky is an outerwear specialist with a focus on collaborative, playful and sustainable approaches to the design process and 3D realisation. Her approach to teaching and learning is to develop independent, autonomous fashion practitioners, based on the principle of student-centred learning. Becky takes particular joy planning and delivering creative workshops that build confidence and creative resilience through collaboration, experimentation and risk taking.

Previous Employment

An established, technical designer with over 14 years Industry design, product development and leadership experience. Becky advanced her professional skills within the Outdoor, Sportswear and Streetwear markets, her enthusiasm for performance clothing, utilitarian design detail, technology and problem solving remain the driving force behind her practice.

Experienced in the design, development and management of apparel ranges she has travelled extensively to China, Japan, Bangladesh, Canada, USA, and Europe for the purposes of design inspiration, prototype development, range reviews, trade shows and product launches. Becky is known for integrating innovative technology such as sonic welding, no-sew construction, laser cutting and seam seal taping into aspirational yet attainable product for Global brands such as Umbro, Regatta, Bench - aligning with her own design principles of modernity, inclusivity and innovation.

Academic service (administration and management)

MFI Competitions Lead

Admission Tutor

Personal Tutor

Prizes and awards

BA (Hons) Fashion Design and Technology, Manchester Metropolitan University Sep 97- June 01

Postgraduate Certificate in Learning and Teaching in Higher Education (PGCLTHE) June 20

Fellow of the Higher Education Academy (FHEA) June 20

Press and media appearances or contributions

Becky’s work has featured in publications such as Dazed and Confused, Vice, ID, Hypebeast, Arena Homme +, Sportwear International & FHM Collections. Her ranges have been launched at international trade shows such as Magic, Bread & Butter, Seek, Premium, Ispo and Jacket Required.

Research

Academic collaborations

“LOOKS” is an annual, collaborative interdisciplinary project at Manchester Fashion Institute, designed to provide second-year students with hands-on experience in industry-based collaborative practices. Selected garments from BA (Hons) Fashion and BA (Hons) Fashion Design and Technology students, are captured by BA (hons) Fashion Art Direction students through styling, casting, art direction and image making producing a series of lookbook images. These outcomes have been showcased through public exhibitions and screenings, celebrating the talents and efforts of the participants over the years. (Ermenc, A., De-Lacy, B., Easom, S., Genders, S.)

Invited Papers

“LOOKS” an exhibition of cross-disciplinary transformative perspectives post covid enabling human-centric values and practice based professional skills. (Ermenc, A., De-Lacy, B., Easom, S., Genders, S.) 26th Annual Conference of the International Foundation of Fashion Technology Institutes, Ewha Womens University, Seoul, Rep of Korea April 2024.

Awarded the IFFTI Initiative Award 2024

‘LOOKS’ an exhibition fostering a community of collaboration, co-creation and respect. (Ermenc, A., De-Lacy, B., Easom, S., Genders, S.) De-Fashioning Education: A Critical Thinking and Making Conference. The Berlin University of the Arts, Germany September 2023. Digital Multilogue | Learning-Projects

Embracing the third dimension, exploring ‘phygital’ connections by honouring technology and tradition. (Thornton, A., Mechan, J., De-Lacy, B.) 25th Annual Conference of the International Foundation of Fashion Technology Institutes, Otago Polytechnic, New Zealand April 2023. 

Awarded the IFFTI Senior Faculty Initiative Award 2023

Invited Discussions

Manchester Menswear Fan Club (M.M.F.C), an experimental, participatory research project. (De-Lacy, B., Kelly, R.) New Research in Dress History Conference. Manchester Metropolitan University, April 2023.

‘Interplay of Physical Half Scale Mannequin and 3D Digital Practices: Underpinning Sustainability in Fashion Education During a Global Pandemic’ _Co-author Becky de Lacy, Jayne Mechan, Adrian Thornton
Fashion and Climate Change Online Symposium
Manchester Metropolitan University
September 2021

‘Design Realisation in Fashion Education – Embedding Sustainable Approaches Through ‘Phygital’ Practices’_Co-author Becky de Lacy, Jayne Mechan, Adrian Thornton
Responsible Fashion: How Can We Make Our Ideas a Reality Online Symposium
Istituto Marangoni
November 2021

Exhibitions

PPL of MCR | Recycling redundant festival tents and NHS textile waste to provide life-enhancing solutions for the homeless in Manchester. Futurescan 5 Conscious Communities, Leeds 7-8th Sep 2022. Poster & Zine exhibitied alongside PPL of MCR prototypes by MA FDT student Ruth Butterworth. Poster Design by Becky de Lacy & Helen Price. Zine co-authored by Becky de Lacy, Helen Price, Barbara Shepherd & Jane Wood.