Research

The School of Fashion and Textiles engages in research and scholarship to address critical questions of our time and to speculate on future conditions for a sustainable urban orientated world.

The School’s research community innovates through design, technology and enterprise within five research streams and in the Centre for Materials Innovation and Future Fashion (CMIFF). Research and scholarship enriches the teaching and learning environment, and the School works in collaboration with practitioners, industry partners, community groups, government agencies and academia, and across RMIT. 

Collaboration and partnership

Collaboration and partnership is at the core of the School's research philosophy and we work extensively with external practitioners, industry partners, community groups, government agencies and academics, both nationally and internationally.

Research is undertaken with companies including:

  • Defence Material Technology Centre
  • Defence Science Institute
  • Victoria Police
  • Australian Wool Innovation
  • Chevron
  • CRC Wound Management
  • Zenith Interior and Zhik Australia
  • Bruck Textile Group
  • Bizwear
  • Bekaert Deslee Australia
  • 2XU
  • AWI
  • DMTC
  • Virgin Australia
  • Melbourne Fashion Festival
Image of girl standing in RMIT Building

Nike AirMax Day

Fostering international and interdisciplinary research collaborations

Fostering international and interdisciplinary research collaborations

Across RMIT Brunswick, City and RMIT Vietnam campuses, our programs foster international partnerships with leading global institutes, encouraging exchange and research collaboration.

Our research focuses on both textile technology and creative practice, with researchers leading the field with projects concerned with the urban environment, and applications for high performance textiles that have the capacity to deliver solutions for safer and healthier lives, from development of protective clothing for firefighters to garments that monitor wellbeing, to new modes of producing and consuming fashion.

Research streams bring together experts from design, curatorial practice, business, technology and science to address, challenge and improve on the status quo.

Our research expertise focuses on:

  • saving lives
  • producing fashion
  • Body: Centric Lab
  • Creative Materials Lab
  • design activism

Images:

First image: 'Material Inventories’ by Ricarda Bigolin, Erika Blomgren, Anna Lidström, Stefanie Malmgren de Oliveira & Clemens Thornquist.

Second image: Nike Air Sportswear and RMIT: Air by Ricarda Bigolin, Blake Barns & Chantal Kirby, Student workshops featuring Sharon Li, photography by Nike 2020.

aboriginal flag
torres strait flag

Acknowledgement of Country

RMIT University acknowledges the people of the Woi wurrung and Boon wurrung language groups of the eastern Kulin Nation on whose unceded lands we conduct the business of the University. RMIT University respectfully acknowledges their Ancestors and Elders, past and present. RMIT also acknowledges the Traditional Custodians and their Ancestors of the lands and waters across Australia where we conduct our business - Artwork 'Luwaytini' by Mark Cleaver, Palawa.

aboriginal flag
torres strait flag

Acknowledgement of Country

RMIT University acknowledges the people of the Woi wurrung and Boon wurrung language groups of the eastern Kulin Nation on whose unceded lands we conduct the business of the University. RMIT University respectfully acknowledges their Ancestors and Elders, past and present. RMIT also acknowledges the Traditional Custodians and their Ancestors of the lands and waters across Australia where we conduct our business.