Barbara Shepherd

Barbara Shepherd is a Reader in Fashion Business at the Manchester Fashion Institute, Manchester Metropolitan University. She specializes in fashion business development, sustainable textile practices, and wearable technology. Her roles include Commercial Director and Academic, with board-level experience in UK High Street retail and global supply chain management. She leads regional projects on textile recycling and PPE innovation, and has successfully managed a Knowledge Transfer Partnership (KTP) in wearable tech.

Education:

• MAAP – Masters in Academic Practice (Manchester Metropolitan University, 2014)
• PGCAP – Postgraduate Diploma in Academic Practice (Manchester Metropolitan University, 2012)
• BA(Hons) Home Economics (University of Ulster, 1988)

Research Interests: Focuses on garment manufacturing, sustainable fashion, textile waste recycling, and pandemic-related PPE design. Active in collaborative projects like the EPSRC E-Textiles Network and Textiles 2030 initiative.

Grants & Projects: Key initiatives include a £2M bid for the Sustainable Solutions for Textiles & Fashion Network, a KTP with Kymira (Sportswear Tech), and NHS-funded PPE design projects. She also oversees the Sponsored Masters Programme, fostering industry-student collaboration.

Awards & Fellowships: Honored as a Fellow of the Textile Institute and Senior Fellow of the Higher Education Authority. Recognized for contributions to knowledge exchange, including awards for body scanning research and fashion start-ups.

Media & Outreach: Featured in BBC Radio Manchester interviews and press releases for PPE innovation during the pandemic. Leads regional sustainability initiatives and sits on policy groups like the GM Sustainable Textile & Fashion Group.