Rosie Broadhead is a textile designer and researcher specialising in biomaterials for fashion industry applications. Founder of material innovation platform SKIN SERIES, and Textile Scientist at Ghent University. Her research focuses on the intersection between skin and clothing, the textile microbiome and how we can influence the body through functional materials. Rosie is a graduate of Central Saint Martins’ MA ‘Material Futures’ course in 2019, and has a background as a designer and Head of Sustainability at sportswear brand Perfect Moment, R&D at Rapha, Thom Browne and Aitor Throup. This research into the future of fashion has resulted in peer reviewed papers and exhibitions during Salone del Mobile Milano, Dutch Design Week, London Design Festival, The Design Museum London and publications in Forbes, British Vogue, i-D and The New York Times. As a reflection on the fashion and bio-design fields she co-founded, ‘Surface Tension’ platform centred around realising the positive potential of materials on the body.
- Design and Development of therapeutic textiles and clothing under the platform Skin Series. - Developing knitwear with health benefits to the skin with less impact on the environment. - Utilising the therapeutic effects of seaweed, zinc, and vitamin E in textiles to benefit the skin. - Stocked in international libraries and showcased at Milan Design Week, London Design Festival ect. -Worked with brands such as Berghaus, Marie Lauder and Eden Power Corp
Based in the Center for Microbial Ecology and Technology at Ghent University developing innovative probiotic textile solutions for the fashion industry. - Focusing on the skin microbiome and probiotics textiles as an alternative for antibacterial finishes. - Designing, developing and performing wet-lab based experiments on textiles and bacteria. - Managing the lab and wear testing programme within the University and external partners. - Partnering with brands, mills and chemical companies to scale the technology commercially. - Managed and tutored several thesis masters students on their final dissertations. - Authored and co-authored peer-reviewed papers, book chapters and conference papers.
Visiting Lecturer at different Universities and Post-graduate programmes including University Arts London, Ghent University, Jan Van Eyck Academie, Università Iuav di Venezia, Lebanese American University
Perfect Moment is a luxury ski-wear brand, founded in Chamonix by Thierry Donard, a renowned extreme sports filmmaker and professional skier. - Worked with creative director and merchandiser to design Menswear and Kidswear collections. - Designed collections, colour-ups, prints and graphics for AW20, SS21 and AW21. - Researched and developed sustainable concepts for sportswear alongside the development team. - Implementing Sustainable fabrics and production processes into the collections. - Attended international fabric sourcing fairs such as Performance Days.
Part of a project on the future of sustainable fashion. I proposed a new way of developing waste-free patterns with future bio-materials such mycelium and bacteria cellulose.
- Assistant to the Head of R&D in all aspects of R&D projects. - Involved in the development of future fabric technologies for both main range and Team Sky. - Analysing fabric testing programmes both lab and wear testing and presenting data. - Involved in an aero dynamics project, which included both wind tunnel and track testing time. - Communicating with mills and suppliers regarding seasonal sampling and proto requests. - Updating CAD drawings to seasonal tech packs and range overviews. - Analysing the impact of Rapha products and fabric through sustainability tool The Higg Index.