Inside Textiles series: Colour, Function & Sustainability
Beyond Aesthetics: Colour, Function & Sustainability
Colour is more than looks — it impacts performance, safety, and sustainability. In this session, we’ll demystify the science of dyeing and printing, showing how coloration can add UV protection, enhance visibility, and even support safety applications. Alongside practical insights, we’ll highlight research and innovations leading textiles toward more sustainable approaches to colour.
Speaker: Dr Saiful Hoque
Dr. Saiful Hoque is a Textile Engineer and Materials Researcher whose work bridges fibre and polymer science, textile manufacturing, sustainability, and smart technologies. His research focuses on material performance, degradation, and the development of textile-based sensors and actuators for healthcare and rehabilitation.
He has authored 25 peer-reviewed articles, 2 book chapters, and 18 conference abstracts, and has been actively contributing to securing national and international grants as both a Principal Investigator and collaborator, leveraging his expertise in smart textiles and performance materials. Currently, Dr. Hoque is a Postdoctoral Fellow at the University of Toronto’s Institute of Biomedical Engineering and the KITE Research Institute at the University Health Network.
In addition to his research, Dr. Hoque serves as Vice-President of the Institute of Textile Science (ITS), Canada, where he supports knowledge exchange and innovation within the textile community. With a background in fabric manufacturing, R&D in knitwear, textile testing, and a strong network in textile manufacturing, he offers consultancy and collaboration opportunities — particularly for smart textile startups, industrial partners, and research organizations — including support in sourcing sustainable, cost-effective textile materials, enhancing material performance, and accelerating the commercialization of textile-based innovations.
Doors Open at 10:30 a.m. with a prompt start at 11 a.m.
****Please note: if you sign up for the event and later find you cannot attend, please let the organizer know the day before the event.
This is session three of a series. Textiles are everywhere — in what we wear, in how we heal, and in the technologies shaping our future. This four-session series, Inside Textiles: Science, Design & Innovation, offers an accessible yet in-depth journey through the fascinating world of textile science & engineering, inviting designers, scientists, makers, and curious minds alike to discover the materials that shape our daily lives.
Across hands-on and interactive sessions, you’ll explore the building blocks of fibres and yarns and learn how fabric structures are engineered. You’ll dive into the surprisingly complex world of textile coloration and see how expert testing ensures quality and performance. Along the way, this series connects foundational knowledge to real-world applications spanning fashion, healthcare, sustainability, and the smart textiles of tomorrow.
Each session is designed as a stand-alone experience that provides valuable insights on its own, but together they build on one another — gradually deepening your understanding and skills. Content closely mirrors what is typically covered in undergraduate textile science courses, making this series both an accessible and essential foundation for anyone eager to understand the fabric of everyday life.
Every session includes a Q&A with the speaker and offers time for networking with fellow attendees. Attendees can enjoy tea, coffee, and light snacks throughout the events, creating a relaxed and welcoming atmosphere for learning and connection.
Participants who attend all four sessions will receive a Certificate of Completion, recognizing the comprehensive nature of this learning journey and your commitment to exploring textiles as both science and creative material.
Join us to bridge creativity and science, explore innovations, and unlock the potential woven into every fibre.