This project proposes to rapidly expand a decentralised, on-demand manufacturing network to provide apparel brands and retailers with a rapid, sustainable, and commercially competitive "closed-loop" production system. UK citizens discard around a million tonnes of textiles per year with around three hundred thousand tonnes of this going to landfill (the overwhelming majority being incinerated). Pre-production waste through inefficiencies during the manufacturing process contributes an additional eight-hundred thousand tonnes of textile landfill throughout the supply chain, whilst the incineration of unsold, "deadstock" augments the UK fashion industry's landfill toll. When paired with the additional carbon footprint from the logistics of an offshore supply chain and consistent concerns over unsafe, exploitative labour practices, it is clear that the UK fashion industry faces significant challenges to reduce its environmental impact. To address these challenges, we shall ambitiously expand a decentralised make on-demand manufacturing network to achieve rapid and sustainably produced apparel that will significantly reduce textile landfill, facilitate higher apparel utility and allow for increased textile recycling. This will allow apparel brands and retailers to engage in an economically viable, "circular economy" supply chain which has vast potential for growth. This project is proposed by Icaruus Limited, a small, London based apparel and equipment design, and manufacturing business. During this nine-month project, Icaruus shall aim to expand a decentralised, circular manufacturing network to develop several iterations of high-quality core pieces that will be market-tested and manufactured under lockdown conditions. The evidence gathered will enable Icaruus to release economically viable, rapidly produced apparel alternatives that will be ready for full-scale use by fashion brands and other retailer stakeholders. Furthermore, Icaruus will leverage this network expansion to create additional supply chain value to fashion brands through repairs and textile recycling capacity. A successful circular manufacturing network requires stakeholder approval. As such, Icaruus has begun preliminary operations to provide circular manufacturing methods to UK healthcare stakeholders with a view to expanding to the UK fashion industry. Obtaining grant funding will greatly improve the scale and time frame of the expansion and ensure that the project has the best chance of reaching a successful conclusion.

This project proposes the redesign of the key pieces of PPE currently used by the NHS in response to the COVID-19 outbreak. Current levels of demand for PPE are at their highest levels in living memory. A surge in hospitalisations has lead to depletion of national stockpiles and considerable distribution challenges. An additional lack of PPE manufacturers in the U.K. has greatly increased the cost and lead time of supplies arriving from overseas suppliers due to a lack of appropriate materials in the global supply chain and enormous competition from other purchasers. To address these challenges, we shall ambitiously redesign PPE to achieve rapid, localised manufacturing, reusability and significant cost savings to the NHS. Furthermore, this proposal will look to establish a virtual sampling system, a live lead time tracker and PPE manufacturing hubs in areas of the UK which are facing significant logistical obstacles. This will ensure that all healthcare stakeholders have access to rapid, sustainable and effective PPE for the foreseeable future. This project is proposed by Icaruus Limited, a small London based apparel and equipment design and manufacturing business. During this 6 month project, Icaruus shall aim to develop several iterations of CE certified PPE that will be market-tested and manufactured under lockdown conditions. The evidence gathered will enable Icaruus to release cheaper, locally produced PPE alternatives that will be ready for full-scale use by the NHS and other key worker institutions. A successful redesign of PPE requires both official certification and stakeholder approval. As such, Icarus has begun preliminary design and research with various London based NHS hospital trusts. Obtaining grant funding will greatly improve the scale and time frame of the redesign and ensure that the project has the best chance of reaching a successful conclusion.