This summer, UAL welcomed three educators from the International Textile and Apparel Association (ITAA) onto its Summer Study Abroad programme - part of a growing international exchange of knowledge, creativity, and learning.
UAL offered 3 free Summer Study Abroad places to ITAA members, allowing them to broaden their creative perspective and bring new knowledge directly back to their students and institutions.
What is ITAA?
ITAA is a professional community of scholars and practitioners in the textile and apparel field. It is committed to research, creativity, knowledge sharing and leadership, and provides a platform for the exchange of ideas and scholarship.
ITAA has over 800 members across multiple countries, united by a shared interest in advancing textile and apparel knowledge.
Who won the 2025 Award?
The 3 award winners (from left to right) were:
Dr. Su Kyung An, Design Professor at Central Michigan University
Keira Moore, doctoral candidate at North Carolina State University in Textile Technology Management (Consumer Behaviour Track)
Dr. Ashlee Rzyczycki, Program Director of the BA in Fashion Merchandising and Design at St. Thomas University
What did they think about their courses?
Dr. Ashlee Rzyczycki
It's been an incredible learning opportunity and experience. I studied fashion design a long time ago when fashion design and fashion merchandising were kind of two disciplines that were together, and it was part of our family consumer sciences in the United States. And so, this was an opportunity for me to go back to my roots where I really learned about fashion design from an artistic perspective. It allowed me to be able to understand the process, as every week we delved into what it would take to actually create a collection or design.
– Dr. Ashlee Rzyczycki, awarded ITAA Faculty Award 2025, joined the Fashion Design 3-week summer course.
Dr. Su Kyung An
On my course I really got to learn through making. The course is intensive and by the end of the three weeks you are expected to have completed a garment. I went in with little knowledge of knitwear techniques and was able to really learn from the basics to a having created a full final project. I really enjoyed being here and am so happy with my final design. I love what I was able to create in such a short time and am looking forward to bringing my experience back with me to my students.
- Su Kyoung An, awarded ITAA Faculty Award 2025, joined the Experimental Fashion Knitwear 3-week summer course.
Keira Moore
I have so many things to say about the course. I had an amazing time. This was the perfect opportunity for me to grow professionally and academically, especially considering I just did my PhD at NC State, so I was ready for a new adventure. I loved learning from our tutor, Toby Meadows. He gave great advice and provided us awesome experiments to do case studies. I feel like in my 3-weeks I really learned about the practicality behind fashion business and how to be a consultant essentially and elevate a brand. So, I'll be excited to take that back with me to the US.
– Keira Moore, awarded ITAA Student Award 2025, joined the Fashion Business 3-week summer course.
A global collaboration
This initiative strengthened UAL’s ties with global design educators and gave participants the chance to experience London’s creative culture first-hand, exchange ideas, and explore new approaches to fashion, textiles and sustainability.
What’s next?
Applications for the 2026 award will open soon. To find out more about ITAA membership, visit the International Textile and Apparel Association website.
Find more information on UAL’s 3-week Summer courses on the Summer Study Abroad website.
