A group of talented young textile technicians from across the UK recently had the opportunity to discover new technologies and industry innovations at ITMA 2023 in Milan, with the support of the UKFT Travel Bursary Fund.

“As a young textile developer, gaining detailed understanding of textile processing is essential for me to be effective within my role,” explained Lucy Bradshaw, a senior technical developer at Camira, who attended ITMA with the support of the fund. “At Camira we work with a range of fibre types, fabric constructions and finishes. I spend a lot of time understanding processes and machinery within our internal processes and that of our suppliers to correlate how this can impact final product performance. Exposure to an exhibition such as ITMA is fundamental in building understanding of available technologies and unlocking possibilities for new innovations.” 

Colin Sutcliffe, Technical Development Manager at Camira, added: “Our young technicians are the future leaders and lifeblood of our industry. It is vital they have an opportunity to grow and develop and within the organisations they work. In a challenging economic climate UKFT’s ITMA Young textile technician bursary fund has been invaluable in facilitating this to make our leaders of tomorrow feel valued and supported today.” 

The Young Textile Technicians said…

Gemma Rudd – AW Hainsworth – Dye House Assistant Manager 

“ITMA was an opportunity to broaden my perspective of the global textiles industry and meet other like-minded and passionate people. Leaving the comfort of the dye house and experiencing the innovative and exciting textiles machinery available across various processes allowed me to gain knowledge in other areas of production I’m less familiar with. This fantastic experience allowed me to realise how lucky I am to work at fully-vertical mill and have access to so many experienced technicians across varied processes who are imperative to my broader education and the education of future generations. My experience with UKFT at ITMA highlighted how important it is to support and develop the next generation within the industry.”  

Rachel Alexander – Apprentice Tuner – Alex-Begg  

“ITMA was a truly amazing experience I’ll never forget. It opens your mind to a whole new world of ideas and knowledge you couldn’t possibly imagine and the ever expanding industry I’m lucky enough to be a part of. Meeting the people and seeing the technology that make our work possible for the future of textiles. During my time at the show I gained an immense knowledge of the machines and fabrics that I am, and will be, working with during my time with the business. I’ll be using this knowledge to not only push myself to succeed, but also share and pass on to my other colleagues and apprentices to help further our company. For me it has opened a new window of learning and opportunities, increasing my confidence in talking to some of the experts I had the chance of meeting and, of course, taking pride in being a young female in such a male-dominated industry. It has only made my interest and excitement for the job bigger.”

Sami Jones, Knitwear Technician – British Alpaca Fashion 

“ITMA was an amazing experience for me. It has been my first chance to see the vast machinery available within the fashion industry and how much is possible. Especially with knitwear, it seems the way to go is whole garment machines. Seeing this machinery helps me better understand everything possible and so many new ideals I have brought back with me, which will help me in my job to be confident and creative when making our products.”

Lucy Bradshaw, Senior Technical Developer at Camira 

“Seeing manufacturing innovations first hand and being able to discuss concepts with experts across the industry has broadened and deepened my knowledge which better informs my day to day. The show gave a single stage to explore lots of types of processing and testing which all combine in a vertical supply chain and a product’s design. Seeing the latest industry innovations (especially in circularity) as well as making new contacts is invaluable to my role of finding new product solutions and solving technical challenges. Additionally, the concept of the young technicians bursary gave me an opportunity to learn from some of my fellow technicians as we bounced ideas, questions and learnings between us – this is the optimum dynamic for a technician to grow.” 

Beatrice Anderson – Knitwear Technician – Odie Knitwear 

“ITMA has left me with a new sense of inspiration for the many possible directions someone with an interest textiles can go down. Throughout the event I felt you could see the benefits of the different machinery manufactures collaborating together to bring about new innovative machinery. It was a fantastic opportunity to meet other technicians and companies. It allowed us as a group of technicians to share how each of our companies do things and share our different methods as well as giving us an opportunity to ask the representatives of companies at the show any questions. This will benefit my role as I am now beginning to form a network of contacts who I can share ideas and problems with. I also feel my confidence and my professional abilities have grown and will hopefully continue to grow and benefit me and our company.” 

Lee Hargreaves – Weaver/Knotter – DHJ Weisters 

“The ITMA exhibition was a really good experience. It was great to interact and meet with others in the industry and it opened my eyes to a wider variety of machinery and products within the textile business. I will benefit hugely as a weaver/knotter seeing the different sizes of warps, jacquards and looms at the exhibition. I think ITMA would be beneficial to anybody who works or is interested in the textile business.“

James Taylor – Knitting Technician – G.H Hurt and Son 

“The UKFT’s trip to ITMA has enabled me to learn about the capabilities and future technologies across a wide variety of machinery within the knitting and weaving industry. I will be able to take back this acquired knowledge and share it with the team at G.H.Hurt & Son, enabling us to establish potential new ways to develop both our existing and future product lines.”

ITMA offers a comprehensive overview of the entire textile value chain, highlighting cutting-edge technologies, sustainable solutions, and efficient production processes. The technicians had the opportunity to explore state-of-the-art machinery and equipment, witness live demonstrations, and engage with industry experts and thought leaders.

The exhibition also serves as a platform for knowledge sharing through conferences, seminars, and special forums. These events feature renowned speakers who delve into industry trends, challenges, and future developments. It offers a valuable opportunity for attendees to stay abreast of the latest research, innovations and best practices in the textile industry.

ITMA served as a melting pot of industry professionals from around the globe. The group of UKFT young textile technicians actively engaged with exhibitors, fostering connections with international manufacturers, suppliers and technology experts. This opened doors to potential partnerships and opportunities, enabling the technicians to expand their reach and enhance their business’ prospects.

The group included representatives aged 30 and under from UK textile companies including Alex Begg, AW Hainsworth, British Alpaca Fashion, Camira, DHJ Weisters, G.H. Hurt & Son, John Smedley and Odie Knitwear. Each received a travel grant covering the travel and accommodation costs incurred to attend ITMA, thanks to the generous support of The Worshipful Company of Weavers, The Worshipful Company of Clothworkers and The Worshipful Company of Drapers. 

About UKFT’s Young Textile Technician Fund

UKFT’s Young Textile Technician Fund is designed to allow businesses across the UK to train their young textile technicians, predominantly in weaving positions. The fund will cover 50% of the costs of in-depth training for young textile technicians, thanks to the generous support of The Worshipful Company of Weavers, The Worshipful Company of Clothworkers and The Worshipful Company of Drapers.  

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