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• “Dyehouse apprentice Gemma Rudd, who works in Production Technical Support for Atkinson Dyeing in Keighley, West Yorkshire, UK, is nearing the end of her first year of study for the Textile Coloration Certificate (TCC) with the SDC. In our latest blog, she talks about her job, her studies, and her passion for the application of colour to fibre. What brought you into the dyeing industry? Before joining the dyeing industry I worked for a fast fashion company as their colour and fabric coordinator. As a part of my role, I created seasonal colour pallets with the design teams. It was my job to communicate colour information and standards within the business and also to external suppliers and dyehouses. This work involved very little technical colour knowledge, and left me at a disadvantage when wanting to communicate with suppliers and dyers. Being made redundant, due to the pandemic, gave me the opportunity to re-evaluate my career path and re-educate myself in what I’m truly passionate about – which is the application of colour to fibre. Studying with the SDC has allowed me to move from design into a technical role within the industry. How did you find out about qualifications at the SDC? Having come across the SDC during my time at university, I attended a speed mentoring event held by the London region before later joining the committee. My redundancy gave me the motivation to put myself forward for the FTCC. Following a an encouraging conversation with Andrew Filarowski, technical director at the SDC, I was certain that studying for the FTCC and then the SDC would be a positive step forward in my career. I later secured my new role with the technical team at Atkinson Dyeing – which is owned by A W Hainsworth. While working here I have continued my education with the SDC. How long have you been studying with the SDC? I have completed the FTCC and am now within the first year of the TCC. How do you find the learning environment – does this suit your learning style? Learning online gives me the flexibility to fit lectures around my role at Atkinson. This has allowed me to combine theory with practical learning on the job. Has the course content been applicable to your role? Have you been able to implement your learnings within your role? Yes the course content has been applicable to my role – and my learnings have helped me solve problems within the work place. What is your favourite/most useful/ mot enlightening thing that you have learned? The most enlightening thing I’ve learnt from the SDC and through my colleagues within the dyeing industry is that every problem can be solved through research and a willingness to learn. How has earning while you learn benefited you? It has allowed me to put my knowledge and learning into practice, resulting in a deeper understanding of my role within the team at Atkinson Dyeing. It has given me the confidence to work independently, knowing I have the knowledge to overcome any problems that arise. Has obtaining the qualification progressed your career so far? Studying for the FTCC and gaining the qualification made me stand out as a candidate when I was accepted for my current job. Knowing I had taken the initiative to improve my technical knowledge before joining the company gave them confidence in my willingness to progress with them. Currently studying for the TCC has further progressed my technical ability and confidence tremendously within my current role. How do you feel your qualification with the SDC has improved your career prospects? I feel my current qualifications with the SDC have improved my personal career prospects massively. It has given me a goal and a focus educationally – as well as providing a structure within my role. What are your ambitions for the future? I would like to go on to study the ASDC and would like to become a Chartered Colourist.”

  Gemma Rudd

• “Name: Sumit Gupta Employer: IOAS Inc, USA Role: Assessor Hi Sumit, thanks for taking part in our new interview series! To kick things off, how did your journey begin within the dyeing industry and how did this lead you to the SDC? My family has been in the retail business of apparel for over four decades, and the dyeing industry has always fascinated me. I studied for a degree in M. Tech in Fibres and Processing Technology from Mumbai University, I then went on to study a master’s degree in Textile Engineering from Punjab Technical University. I volunteered for the SDC education charity in Mumbai, first as vice chairman then as secretary. What lead you to achieving your chartered status? Having already completed my masters in technology, I received the ASDC qualification from the SDC by exemption — I then achieved my chartered status two years later as per the rules. I now work as a textile engineer. How was your time with the SDC and do you still find you are able to implement your learnings to your current role? I spent five years with the SDC EC in India from 2012 to 2017. During my time here, there were several exciting and engaging educational programmes available to students and those working in industry. I helped to expand the outreach of the SDC and kickstarted the ‘Young Talent Search’ competition in 2015. I had experience organising events in my previous role at GOTS — I was also able to spread the word about the SDC in my network. What is your favourite part about textile coloration? It is hard to pick a favourite! However, professionally, I am involved in the part that ensures that the colourants and colouration is free from hazardous substances. In my current role at IOAS Inc, a US based Accreditation Body, I assess the certification bodies, their quality management systems, and competence of their staff who are engaged in auditing and evaluating dyers and colour makers for GOTS and / or GRS standards. How do you find the balance of keeping on top of your chartered status and working full time? Interestingly, all my full-time jobs have been in the domain of technical certifications, such as Oeko-Tex, Eco Passport, GOTS, GRS and so on. Constantly changing conformity requirements have pushed me to continue learning and innovating throughout my career — I would like to thank goddess Saraswati for the opportunities I have had so far. Tell us more about your job role I am currently working as an Assessor for IOAS Inc. The company is based in the US, but fortunately I can work from my home in Mumbai. As an Accreditation Body, IOAS works with several private standards and governments across the world in different domains including farming, cosmetics, and textiles. My role is focussed on the textile sector including Global Organic Textile Standard (GOTS) and Textile Exchange standards like GRS, RCS and OCS. As a chartered colourist, what are your thoughts on sustainability within textile coloration? Having spent over a decade in the industry. I believe that buyers should insist on clean products, even if this means supplier prices are higher. All parties, including testing laboratories and certifiers, need to heavily invest in training and competence building to ensure they are contributing towards a successful future for the industry. What are your career aspirations for the future? I made the move to IOAS a year ago and I am still in the learning phase here. My aspirations are to continue working in the field of quality assurance and certification.”

  Sumit Gupta