Dr Nkumbu Mutambo

Dr. Nkumbu Mutambo is a Research Fellow at the School of Design, Arts and Creative Industries at Northumbria University. Her current work adopts an interdisciplinary approach to addressing complex challenges in the field of fashion sustainability. More broadly, her research explores the social role of design, with a particular focus on the significance of heritage in fashion practice. She investigates how designers engage with history, dress, and identity, and how these intersections shape creative processes and cultural expression. In addition to her knowledge of the fashion sector, Nkumbu draws on a wealth of experience gained from working as researcher on multidisciplinary, collaborative projects. These include Creative Fuse Northeast, a knowledge exchange focused initiative aimed at supporting the creative and cultural industry, and ThreadCount, a multi-stakeholder examination of awareness and action towards mitigating microfibre pollution in the fashion industry.

• Please visit the Pure Research Information Portal for further information
• 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
• 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
• The Kaunda Suit: Exploring a Legacy of Sartorial Resistance and Self Determination, Mutambo, N. 6 Sep 2024, Border Control
• Final degree shows: culmination or invitation?, Simmons, H., Bailey, M., Spencer, N., Hemstock, O., Mutambo, N. 7 Sep 2023, DS 123, Glasgow, The Design Society

• Please visit the Pure Research Information Portal for further information
• Organising a conference, workshop, ...: IMPACT+ Symposium 2024
• Publication Peer-review: African Journal of Creative Economy (Journal) 2024
• Invited talk:  Heritage in Zambian Fashion Design Practice 2023
• Organising a conference, workshop, ...: National Centre for Academic and Cultural Exchange (NCACE) 2023
• Organising a conference, workshop, ...: Creative Fuse Conference 2022
• Oral presentation: Heritage In Contemporary Zambian Fashion 2022
• Other: Podcast Producer 2022

• Fashion PhD September 29 2022
• Fashion MA October 01 2021