Manchester Fashion Institute to use robots for sustainable production

Manchester Fashion Institute, a division of Manchester Metropolitan University (MMU), has launched the Robotics Living Lab (RoLL), its first-ever fashion manufacturing laboratory. This £3.8 million ($4.7 million) facility will pioneer sustainable production methods and revolutionize fashion design and manufacturing through advanced robotics.

RoLL is designed to support fashion enterprises and academic researchers, with a focus on integrating collaborative robots (cobots) into garment production. These programmable robotic arms can perform a range of tasks, including stitching, drawing, knitting, and 3D scanning, enabling small-scale, high-value, eco-friendly production.

The lab aims to bridge the skills gap in UK fashion manufacturing while reducing environmental impact. Advanced digital design software will further enhance pattern cutting and garment assembly, making the production process more efficient and sustainable.

Beyond manufacturing, RoLL is set to drive research partnerships, supporting carbon-neutral fashion policies and contributing to Greater Manchester’s net-zero emissions goal by 2038. The facility is housed within the Work in Progress Pavilion, a low-carbon timber-framed space featuring offices, an exhibition hall, a lecture theatre, and a robot cell for live demonstrations.

“This launch is the culmination of years of planning, collaboration, and research,” said Susan Postlethwaite, RoLL Director and Manchester Fashion Institute professor. “RoLL will help reshape the creative industry by upskilling human workers and offering locally manufactured, world-class fashion products.”