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Dr Alana James

Associate Professor

School: Design Arts and Creative Industries

Dr Alana James is an Associate Professor in Fashion at Northumbria University and has specialised in the field of sustainable innovation for over a decade. Her expertise lies in the use of design tools, methods and approaches to develop sustainable interventions within the fashion and textile value chain. Alana applies her design knowledge and expertise to addressing complex global sustainability challenges through innovative and creative problem solving and strategic thinking.

Through her work she collaborates with multiple disciplines (environemntal science, forensic science) and a breadth of stakeholders (textile and garment manufacturers, brands and retailers, the charity retail sector, policy makers and citizens) across the fashion and textile sector to collegiately respond to complex environmental and social challenges.

Alana James

Alana brings this experience to her role as Director for the IMPACT+ Network, where she was awarded £3.1 million as Principal Investigator in 2023. This interdisciplinary research team works across disciplinary boundaries with design, environmental science and forensic science collectively coming together to tackle complex, global sustainability issues. The Network challenges the way that environmental impact in the fashion industry is measured, addressing inaccurate and misleading data which is currently directing policy, funding and action. Within the network, her priorities are to bridge disciplinary knowledge and develop transparent and inclusive relationships with integral project partners.

Alana’s contribution to the discourse globally has been acknowledged through two international appointments including as a Visiting Professor at BINUS University in Indonesia, where she has been delivering the Dual Award Programme in Global Design Management forthe past 6 years. Her passion for transnational education has most recently been recognised by Kamalia University in Pakistan, where she holds the position of Adjunct Professor, reflecting on-going research collaborations with academia and industry within Pakistan.

  • Please visit the Pure Research Information Portal for further information
  • Improving the sustainability and durability of performance swimwear through consumer knowledge and usage habits, Upton, B., James, A. 24 Jun 2025, Proceedings of the 6th Product Lifetimes and the Environment Conference (PLATE2025), Aalborg, Denmark, Aalborg University
  • Repairing and regenerating the community: A study in activating garment repair initiatives with stakeholders at local level , Peirson Smith, A., Wetherell, S., Singer, E., James, A., Irving-Munro, A., Mutambo, N., Nicolson, S. 24 Jun 2025, Proceedings of the 6th Product Lifetimes and the Environment Conference (PLATE2025), Aalborg University
  • The Care and Repair Guide: Reducing Environmental Impact and Addressing Skills Gaps in Responsible Wardrobe Management, James, A., Peirson-Smith, A., Mutambo, N., Nicolson, S., Wetherell, S., Irving-Munro, A. 24 Jun 2025, Proceedings of the 6th Product Lifetimes and the Environment Conference (PLATE2025), Aalborg, Aalborg University
  • The Consumption Economy – Finding Value in Our Clothing, Irving-Munro, A., James, A. 24 Jun 2025, Proceedings of the 6th Product Lifetimes and the Environment Conference (PLATE2025), Aalborg University
  • Utilising Digital Technology for Garment Longevity, Wetherell, S., Shilton, L., James, A. 24 Jun 2025, Proceedings of the 6th Product Lifetimes and the Environment Conference (PLATE2025), Aalborg, Denmark, Aalborg University
  • Cross-disciplinary Collaboration Challenging Microfibre Fragmentation in the Fashion and Textile Industries, James, A., Mutambo, N., Prendergast-Miller, M., Sheridan, K., Rogers, A. 30 Apr 2024, Microfibre Pollution from Textiles, Boca Raton, US, Taylor & Francis
  • Mapping the Environmental Impact Assessment Landscape in the Fashion and Textile Industries: Critical Gaps and Challenges, Mutambo, N., Peirson-Smith, A., KeChi-Okafor, C., Irving-Munro, A., Sheridan, K., Prendergast-Miller, M., Namdeo, A., Stanton, T., Gallidabino, M., James, A. 26 Sep 2024, In: Sustainability
  • Natural Fibers: Why Are They Still the Missing Thread in the Textile Fiber Pollution Story?, Stanton, T., James, A., Prendergast-Miller, M., Peirson-Smith, A., Kechi-Okafor, C., Gallidabino, M., Namdeo, A., Sheridan, K. 10 Jul 2024, In: Environmental Science and Technology
  • Utilising 3D fashion design software to enable remanufacturing in sportswear, Wetherell, S., Nicholson, T., James, A. 3 May 2024, In: International Journal of Fashion Design, Technology and Education

  • Kenny MacRae Camo, Colour and Craft: a modern exploration of the craft of camouflage printing, taking in the development, use and application of the Denison camouflage pattern, reinvigorating the practice and saving the techniques for prosperity. Start Date: 01/10/2023 End Date: 17/10/2025
  • Xin Gao Repurposing post-consumer textile waste: creating a maker culture framework for modular design opportunities in the circular economy Start Date: 01/10/2023
  • Sophie Wetherell Reimagining Design Practices: Analysing the changing role of designers through the redesign and remanufacture of deadstock sportswear garments. Start Date: 07/12/2023 End Date: 17/10/2025
  • Sophie Wetherell Reimagining Design Practices: Analysing the changing role of designers through the redesign and remanufacture of deadstock sportswear garments. Start Date: 07/12/2023
  • Shuoying Hong The future sustainable development and innovation of Chinese sportswear - Emphasizing the role of co-creation from the perspective of designers Start Date: 01/10/2023
  • Kenny MacRae Camo, Colour and Craft: a modern exploration of the craft of camouflage printing, taking in the development, use and application of the Denison camouflage pattern, reinvigorating the practice and saving the techniques for prosperity. Start Date: 01/10/2023
  • Shuoying Hong The future sustainable development and innovation of Chinese sportswear - Emphasizing the role of co-creation from the perspective of designers Start Date: 01/10/2023 End Date: 17/10/2025
  • Xin Gao Repurposing post-consumer textile waste: creating a maker culture framework for modular design opportunities in the circular economy Start Date: 01/10/2023 End Date: 17/10/2025

Design Studies PhD November 17 2014


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