The British Council launches research and development grant scheme ‘New Landscapes India’

The British Council has announced a new research and development grant scheme named ‘New Landscapes India’ in partnership with the University of the Arts London’s Fashion, Textiles and Technology Institute. The institute has called on fashion designers and small and medium enterprises to apply to innovate sustainable design. 

“We are thrilled to introduce New Landscapes India, which underscores our commitment to promoting sustainable practices and international collaboration in addressing the environmental challenges that the industry faces,” said the British Council’s India director Alison Barrett, Telegraph India reported. “We are dedicated to facilitating cross-border research and development projects and promoting knowledge exchange in the design sector. Our partnership with UAL is an exciting opportunity to encourage Indian designers, entrepreneurs, and SMEs to engage in collaborative innovation in sustainable fashion and technology.”

The grant is designed to enable the Indian fashion and textiles industry to assess its impact on the environment and find a way to increase sustainability moving forward. The programme first launched in 2021 and is spearheaded by the British Council’s Architecture Design Fashion team. The grant comprises seven grants of up to £7,000 each for collaborative projects between Indian designers, SMEs, and entrepreneurs and their counterparts in the UK.

“FTTI’s work to date with SMEs across fashion, textiles and technology sectors, is seeing a new type of future with SMEs as the driving force behind sustainable innovation that critically is better for people and planet,” said UAL FTTI director Jane Harris. “We are really delighted to have the opportunity to further evolve this initiative with the British Council in support of UK and Indian sustainable fashion and textile innovators.”