The collaboration with the School of Textiles and Design aims to create PPE that is adaptable to the changing demographics of the workforce.
The American company DuPont has collaborated with a leading UK fashion design university to create Personal Protection Equipment (PPE) suitable for today’s changing workforce. The collaboration between Heriot-Watt University’s School of Textiles and Design and DuPont Personal Protection aims to develop protective clothing that meets the changing needs of workers.
The workforce’s demographics are changing. The proportion of European women in employment increased from just over 58 percent in 2009 to more than 64 percent ten years later, and this trend is expected to continue. The workforce is also aging demographically (1 in every 5 workers in the EU is over 55) and becoming more diverse as a result of migration.
These trends necessitate a new approach to PPE design that prioritizes variety, comfort, and usability. This is where DuPont’s partnership with Heriot-Watt University comes into play.
The School of Textiles and Design in Galashiels, Scotland, is recognized as an excellence center that attracts talent from all over the world.
“We are committed to continually innovating our materials and PPE design to address the changing needs of workers around the world,” comments Valérie Pierret, Global Market Development Leader, DuPont Personal Protection.
“We decided to join forces with one of the leading fashion and textile research institutions in Europe to bring new, disruptive ideas to our garment design process.” adds further.
DuPont is delighted to work with university students
DuPont wanted to pick the next generation’s brains to see how they’d approach PPE design for this changing workforce.
The school’s collaboration with DuPont paved the way for a new research project involving a group of about 20 students led by industrial and fashion technology expert Assistant Professor Bruce Munro Roberts.
The project has already generated over 500 pages of ideas, more than 20 prototype concepts, and preliminary evaluations of the concepts' performance.
DuPont provided the team with an in-depth overview of its current solutions, relevant market information, including findings from the voice of customer research, and key regulatory requirements for PPE. With this information, the students were given a detailed brief that included information on target applications, specific success parameters, key requirements, and desired deliverables.
The students quickly grasped the material and drew inspiration from sportswear and outerwear to create innovative PPE design solutions.
“I was amazed by the volume and quality of the ideas the students were able to generate,” commented Pierret. “Despite the challenging task they faced, the students were able to think outside of the box while complying with the stringent requirements that PPE typically entails.”
A win-win situation
It was a win-win situation because the students were able to answer real-world questions posed by industry leaders.
“Working on this collaborative project with DuPont provided the BSc Fashion Technology students with real-life industry experience,” noted assistant professor at the school, Bruce Munro Roberts.
“The support for the students in terms of learning materials, sample PPE, fabrics, and feedback exceeded our expectations, and overall, we were delighted to be working with this international company” adds further.
About DuPont
For more than 200 years, DuPont has been innovating around you, while continually reinventing itself to bring technology-driven solutions to our customers. Right now, they are focused on helping customers advance their best ideas and delivering specialized products and solutions to transform industries and everyday life. From helping electric cars charge faster and go farther to meeting life’s essentials for clean water, they are around the world, working side by side with industry leaders in safety, healthcare, electronics, mobility, and construction, to help you thrive today.
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