Sarah Collins
Senior Lecturer, Deputy Division Head - Fashion Design
I am a Senior Lecturer on the BA and MA Fashion Design and Technology programmes at the Manchester Fashion Institute, MMU, specialising in design process, research methodologies and portfolio communication. My expertise includes sports and performance wear with a focus on user centred design and co design methodologies.
As a unit leader, I have worked to develop both the UG and PG curriculum and secured student centred projects with external stakeholders and international brands, including Puma, Woolmark and the National Football Museum, to promote working within a professional context.
I gained a PG Certificate in Academic Practice and was awarded Fellowship of The Higher Education Academy in 2017. I am currently External Examiner for BA Fashion Design at the University of Central Lancashire.
Academic and professional qualifications
BA (Hons)
Post Graduate Cap
Fellow of the Higher Education Authority (FHEA)
Previous Employment
Prior to joining the Manchester Fashion Institute Sarah held academic positions on the BA (Hons) Fashion Design programmes at the Manchester School of Art and the University of Central Lancashire.
I have over 15 years’ experience within the fashion industry, including design consultancy roles with Kangol, Doc Marten’s and Henri Lloyd and senior design positions with sportswear brands Reebok and the Adidas Group, working across Europe, the US, Asia and South Africa.
Undergraduate teaching
Senior Lecturer on BA (Hons) Fashion Design & Technology.
Postgraduate teaching
Senior Lecturer on MA Fashion Design & Technology.
External examiner roles
External Examiner for BA (Hons) Fashion Design at University of Central Lancashire
Strip! Show
Videos
Research
Research Interests
I am currently working towards a PhD
Research Interests: co-design, football shirts, fandom, authenticity, identity.
Academic collaborations
Shepherd, B; Collins, S (2021). ‘Rekit - Upcycling redundant Manchester City football shirts to reduce paediatric distress and anxiety in hospital’.
Conference Paper: Iffti 23rd Conference, Pearl Academy India.
Sports Engineering Day, Manchester Metropolitan University, March 2018
Seminar presentation: User Centred Design: A Framework for Student Practice
Venkatraman PD;Velusamy V;Kharel R;Collins S (2016). ‘Smart wearable biosensor for non-invasive real time detection of sweat lactate using compression garments’.
Conference paper: 90th Textile Institute World Conference, Poznan, Poland, 26 Apr 2016 - 28 Apr 2016. 27
Invited Discussions
(2019) Panel discussion at The National Football Museum, Manchester, as part of the Strip! How Football Got Shirty exhibition.
Projects and initiatives
RKE Project: Re-kit: Upcycling Manchester City football shirts to reduce paediatric distress and anxiety in hospital.
A cross faculty KE initiative to develop innovative new hospital gowns, created from Manchester City shirts and donated to the Royal Manchester Children’s Hospital, with the aim of helping and supporting the experience of children undergoing treatment and care.
The pilot project was a collaboration with the hospital, Manchester Fashion Institute at Manchester Metropolitan University and HMPPS.
Exhibitions
Strip! How Football Got Shirty exhibition at the National Football Museum, Manchester (Nov 2019 to present)
Exhibition Contributor: Strip! Show. Panel discussion exploring issues of identity, sustainability, design and gender tied to football shirts. The discussion forms part of the in-house and online exhibition, Strip!
https://nationalfootballmuseumstrip.com/strip-show-the-expert-panel/
Internet Publications
Collins, S.K., 2018. 'Why retro kits are in vogue', https://www2.mmu.ac.uk/news-and-events/news/story/8073/.
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.
Venkatraman, P.D., Velusamy, V., Kharel, R., Collins, S., 2016. 'Smart wearable biosensor for non-invasive real time detection of sweat lactate using compression garments.'.
Presentations
Collins, S.K., Shepherd, B., 2018. 'User Centred Design: Framework for Student Practice', Manchester Metropolitan University.
Office Location
Room C2.29
Cavendish South
Manchester Fashion Institute
Manchester Metropolitan University
Cavendish Street
Manchester M15 6BG
Office Hours
Monday - Thursday