The Mills Fabrica to host design solution talks at London Craft Week

The Mills Fabrica to host design talks at London Craft Week

Dezeen has teamed up with innovation platform The Mills Fabrica to livestream a number of talks that explore design solutions to planet-related issues on 11 May 2023 as part of London Craft Week.

London Craft Week returns to London for its ninth edition from 8 to 14 May 2023.

The Mills Fabrica event, named Planet-Saving Innovations, includes a series of keynotes, panels and talks where industry leaders will discuss tackling some of the biggest challenges our climate is facing through design.

You can watch the event on Dezeen's YouTube channel from 9:30am London time.

Dr Manel Torres portrait — Manel Torres is a speaker at the event. Top image: Biofabricate showcase. Photo credit Rimvydas Ivoškis.

Amongst the speakers is Manel Torres, founder of technology company Fabrican and inventor of the technology behind the viral spray-on Coperni dress modeled by Bella Hadid at Paris Fashion Week.

The featured speakers also include chief design officer at biomaterial innovation brand Biofabricate, Amy Congdon and sustainable business specialist at luxury fashion platform FARFETCH Hannah Carey.

"Partnering with the London Craft Week here at The Mills Fabrica is a perfect example of how we are continuing to build a community of like-minded innovators, creatives and entrepreneurs with the same vision of making the textile and apparel industry more sustainable and better for our planet," said global head of The Mills Fabrica, Nikita Jayasuriya.

Butterfly in a bell jar — The event will explore design solutions to the world's most pressing problems. Image: Biofabricate showcase. Photo credit Rimvydas Ivoškis

Alongside the talks, Fabrica X – Mills Fabrica's innovation gallery and concept store – will present an exhibition on biomaterials that showcases products and materials made from both traditional and new, scientific techniques.

Brands included in the exhibition are Arda Biomaterials, a material brand transforming spent grain waste from breweries into a plastic-free leather alternative, and BioFluff, the world's first 100 per cent plant-based fur brand.

Orange-coloured material — Also on display is a biomaterials exhibition

Read on for Planet-Saving Innovations' full line-up.

Presentations
9:00am to 14:00pm

› Dr Manel Torres, founder of Fabrican
› Amy Congdon, chief design officer at Biofabricate
› Yudi Ding, founder of Hide Biotech
› Brett Cotten, co-founder of Arda Biomaterials
› Patrick Baptista Pinto, co-founder of Really Clever
› Lauren Bartley, sustainability and CSR director at GANNI
› Louisa Tholstrup, stakeholder engagement and experience at The Earthshot Prize
› Emily Bullman, investor at True Global
› Nikita Jayasuriya, general manager of Europe, The Mills Fabrica
› Tiffanie Darke, director at Story Studios
› Hannah Carey, senior sustainable business specialist at Farfetch
› Keith O'Brien, senior PR and communications manager at ISKO
› Chet Lo, designer at Chet Lo
› Idan Gal-Shohet, co-founder and CEO at Fibe
› Julian Ellis-Brown, co-founder & CEO, SaltyCo
› Max Easton, global innovation director, Smartex
› Walden Lam, co-founder and CEO, Unspun

Portrait of Amy Congdon — Chief design officer at Biofabricate Amy Congdon is also a speaker

The Mills Fabrica is the innovation partner of London Craft Week 2023 for the third year running.

It aims to support the techstyle and agrifood industries' transition to a more sustainable future and "create success stories between innovators, entrepreneurs, organisations and corporate brands, that together, drive positive change for future generations".

London Craft Week takes place from 8 to 14 May 2023. In a bid to celebrate both British and international creativity, the event brings together more than 700 established and emerging creators, designers, brands and galleries from around the world.