The LEGI-STANDARDS project, delivered by Manchester Metropolitan University in collaboration with UKFT, and funded by the Back to Baselines initiative, laid the foundations for FASHTRAX and the development of the Compliance Navigation Tool.

Across three phases, the project:

• Mapped over 80 eco-standards against emerging sustainability regulations, highlighting overlaps, gaps and opportunities for simplification.
• Evaluated 20 advanced digital tools that communicate eco-credentials and align with new legislative requirements.
• Piloted the Compliance Navigator with 20 industry partners, ensuring it delivers practical, tailored support to help SMEs meet compliance more effectively.

Join us for an exclusive walkthrough of the Compliance Navigator Tool – your smart solution for tackling sustainability regulations.

• Discover how to navigate compliance with confidence using a free, user-friendly tool designed to save you time.
• Learn from experts, take part in practical, interactive sessions, and walk away with real strategies you can apply immediately.

Speaker bio: Julie Hodson

Julie Hodson plays a pivotal role at Manchester Fashion Institute, driving international engagement, sustainability, and business collaboration. With a strong industry background, she bridges academia and business, delivering impactful initiatives like the FASHTRAX website, COMPLIANCE NAVIGATOR, and LEGI-STANDARDS. Julie excels in managing complex, multi-stakeholder projects, ensuring smooth delivery through expert negotiation, budgeting, and administration. Her work supports global policy engagement and enriches teaching through industry partnerships. A natural connector and team player, Julie consistently delivers high-impact outcomes, embedding sustainability in research and education. Her leadership and commitment are instrumental in positioning MFI as a hub for innovation and real-world relevance.

Speaker bio: Hilde Heim

Dr Hilde Heim is a Senior Academic at Manchester Fashion Institute, specialising in fashion strategy, sustainability, and innovation. With a career that bridges both industry and academia, Hilde is known for translating complex policy and regulatory frameworks into accessible, practice-based insights for fashion professionals. She plays a key role in shaping research agendas that intersect digital transformation and responsible business practices—most recently leading the LEGI-STANDARDS III project, which supports industry preparedness for the EU’s Digital Product Passport (DPP). Hilde’s work is grounded in collaboration, working across sectors to co-develop tools and resources that demystify compliance and empower action—such as the Compliance Navigator, a free tool designed to help businesses respond to new and emerging sustainability legislation. A regular presenter and published researcher, and member of ETP and contributor to 2 expert working groups for CIRPASS, Hilde brings clarity, criticality, and creativity to discussions about what fashion can—and should—become in a rapidly evolving regulatory landscape.

COMAPNY BIO MMU/MFI

Based at Manchester Metropolitan University, the Manchester Fashion Institute’s Textiles Transparency Team is leading the LEGI-STANDARDS III project. The team comprises researchers ranging from PhD students to mid-career scholars and senior academics. Dr Hilde Heim, an expert in fashion strategy, sustainability, and innovation, leads the project. Julie Hodson serves as Industry Liaison Manager, fostering connections across the fashion sector. Dr Abraham Zhang, from the Adam Smith Business School in Glasgow, contributes specialist knowledge in supply chain management, while LizzyDakin, Sustainability Manager at the UKFT, brings valuable industry perspective.

Together, the team is investigating how increased visibility across the fashion supply chain can enhance accountability, improve sustainability outcomes, and support ethical decision-making. Their research focuses on digital tools, policy frameworks, and industry practices that strengthen traceability. MFITT is also a signatory of the UNECE Sustainability Pledge, aligning with global efforts to promote transparent and sustainable value chains.