National Careers Week: A day in the life of our technical director
Have you ever thought about a career in textiles? There’s no traditional route to making it to the top, as our technical director Andrew Filarowski tells us. We caught up with Andrew to find out more about a typical working day at the Society of Dyers and Colourists.
What does a normal workday look like for you?
I wouldn’t say I have a “normal” day because my role is so wide-ranging. On some days, I might be engaging with students who are taking our courses. On others, I could be liaising with people who have joined us on our colour design competitions.
Some days I’ll be working on colour fastness testing or colour measurements. I could also be looking at the latest standards, or some days I might be tucked away in the archive. Our mission is to educate the world in the science of colour – and there’s never a dull moment.
How did you get into a career in textiles?
Like so many people in the textiles industry, I fell into this career. Sadly, I didn’t do too well on my A-Levels. But my mother insisted I went to Leeds University to get a degree.
I remember my first ever experiment: I had to create synthetic nylon in a tube. From thereon, it snowballed into working for chemical companies, and ultimately, working here at the Society.
What’s your favourite thing about your job?
I’d say I’m really lucky because I have so much variety in my job. I love the fact that I get to travel the world, observing the way textiles are being produced globally. Likewise, I get to look inside factories in the UK and think about our production methods at home.
Even better, it’s great to see the next generation entering into the world of textiles. I’m lucky enough to see students developing their skills and knowledge all the time.
Do you have any tips for those looking for a career in textiles?
My advice to anybody starting off a career in textiles is to embrace every single part of it. Textiles are woven into the fabric of our everyday lives, if you’ll pardon the pun! You get the opportunity to look at new textiles, to touch and feel them, every day.
This could be anything from walking through a shop to sitting on a piece of furniture or using public transport. That means there’s always a new learning opportunity – so embrace it.
To watch the full interview, click here.
National Careers Week runs from Monday 6th to Saturday 11th March. Want to hear more about a career in the textiles industry? Read our SDC Education Survey 2023.