The PCIAW® Summit will focus on ‘Skills, Training, and the Education Gap’ in the professional clothing industry on October 29-30, 2025, at the Hilton London Bankside.
Deborah Southerland, Program Leader BA Hons Fashion Textiles, University of West England (UWE) will be speaking on the panel, representing the round table hosted with industry and academic institutions to raise awareness of professional clothing as a career path and to ensure the needs of industry are understood in curriculum.
Skills, Training, and the Education Gap panel discussion will be hosted by PCIAW® Board Director, Karen Burrows, who is the Manager Special Projects Madeira HQ – Formerly MD and Chairman, Madeira UK. Annette van Es, CEO, Phantomleaf® Textiles GmbH and Rebekah Bradley, Create & Design Lead, Workwear Solutions International will also speak on the round table.
Deborah Southerland, Program Leader BA Hons Fashion Textiles, University of West England commented: I’m delighted to be invited to take part in the round table discussion on Skills, Training & Education. The workwear and professional clothing Industries are full of exciting opportunities for Fashion graduates that are frequently overlooked in more ‘traditional’ approaches to Professional Practice and Graduate development – but this is an area I’m truly passionate about, and I am committed to equipping my students with the skills they need to thrive in this exciting sector.”
“I believe that working closely with industry partners—through collaboration and co-creation of curriculum content, as well as participation in events like this – that Educators can ensure their Graduates have the skills, knowledge and ambition to create a secure pipeline of talent.”
Professional clothing and PPE Design is a core part of the UWE curriculum
At UWE Bristol, the Fashion Textiles programme delivers Professional Workwear and PPE design as a core part of the curriculum, offering students a unique, industry-facing experience that expands their understanding of fashion beyond traditional *Fashion* boundaries.
Delivered through a live brief in collaboration with Workwear Solutions International (Natalie Wilson) and Sarah Wilshire (Menopause Consultant), the project challenges students to respond to real-world scenarios, putting user needs, and technical requirements at the fore of their design process. The project introduces solution-focused design methods and encourages students to centre their practice on functionality, inclusivity, and user well-being.
This Project not only deepens students’ contextual understanding of the wider garment industry but also introduces the Professional Workwear and PPE sector as a viable and exciting graduate destination. Several of our graduates have already gone on to start building successful careers in the Professional Clothing Industries; most notably Rebekah Bradley at Workwear Solutions International
About Deborah Southerland
Deb Southerland is a Senior Lecturer and Programme Leader of the Fashion Textiles programme at UWE Bristol. She has over 20 years’ experience in higher education leading in the creative design and delivery of Programmes at both UG and PG level.
Outside of UWE, Deb serves as the Learning and Teaching Lead on the Steering Group for the Association of Fashion Textile Courses (FTC). The FTC represents over 55 UK Higher Education providers and offers a forum for reflection, debate, and collaboration between academia, industry, public bodies, and professional organisations.
