The global textile industry is enormous – worth trillions, employing millions and colouring our world in more ways than one. But behind the vibrant fabrics we wear every day lies a hidden story involving nearly 15,000 different chemicals used throughout manufacturing. With limited transparency from the industry about what’s used where (and what happens to those chemicals along a garment’s journey) there’s a lot to unpack.
Join us for a lively, hour–long interactive webinar where we’ll dive into the colourful chemistry of textile dyes and fabric treatments. Our expert guests will unravel the science behind how our clothes get their hues, finishes and special properties as well as spotlight exciting innovations that could help create a cleaner, more sustainable textile future.
In this session, we’ll explore:
Fresh research on the environmental impact of today’s most common dyeing and finishing methods
A renewable, sustainable alternative to traditional formaldehyde–based textile finishes
A versatile surface modification approach that unlocks new functional materials with tuneable colour, adhesion, wettability and more
Whether you’re a chemist, designer, sustainability advocate or simply curious about what’s woven into your wardrobe, this webinar brings clarity, colour and creativity to one of the world’s most influential industries.
Miriam L Diamond
Miriam L Diamond is a professor in the department of earth sciences and school of the environment at the University of Toronto, Canada. Her research over the past 30-plus years focuses on understanding and quantifying chemical emissions and the connection to human and ecological exposure. She now focuses on international chemicals management and planetary boundaries for chemical pollution. Her science and policy research has been published in over 250 peer-reviewed articles and chapters, in addition to receiving extensive media attention. Diamond is a commissioner for Earth Commission 2.0, the vice-chair of the International Panel on Chemical Pollution, and is the chemicals and waste expert on the scientific and technical advisory panel of the Global Environment Facility.
Taylor Kanipe
Taylor Kanipe is a PhD student in the department of forest biomaterials at North Carolina State University, US. She received her bachelor of science in chemistry from Wingate University, US in 2022. Her research focuses on developing sustainable, bio-based finishes for cellulosic materials and alternatives to petroleum-derived coatings.
Mark Moloney
Mark Moloney is a graduate of the University of Sydney, Australia, and retired in 2023 as professor of chemistry at the University of Oxford, UK and St Peter’s College, Oxford. A major focus of his research has been the development of surface modification protocols for materials, which lead to novel functional materials, with diverse properties including colour, fluorescence, and antimicrobial activities. He has also developed tetramates as a novel class of antibacterials, inspired by natural products which possess this core motif. He has strong interest in technology innovation and commercialisation, and has published more than 250 papers and patents.
