Kristina Brubacher

Kristina is a Lecturer in Fashion Technology at the Department of Materials at The University of Manchester, where she contributes to teaching and research in the Fashion Business & Technology Group.  

After completing her BSc in Textile and Clothing Management (Niederrhein University of Applied Sciences, Germany) Kristina worked in the fashion industry in Germany and Australia before focusing more on functional clothing in her MSc in Clothing Product Development at Manchester Metropolitan University, where, following another period in industry, she studied also for her PhD on the design development of compression sportswear using 3D technologies.  

Kristina’s research is interdisciplinary and lies at the intersection of clothing, the body and self-identify. Her main research interests include:

• Product development and technical clothing design – especially for functional clothing and sportswear
• Use of technologies to enhance clothing design and production processes  – specifically 3D CAD, virtual fit and 3D body scanning
• Enhancing the clothing-body-relationship through technical design and material innovations – particularly fit, sizing and comfort
• User-centred design processes – considering functional, expressive and aesthetic user needs
• Perceptual effects of clothing on wearers – especially in relation to sportswear and performance as well as design for behavioural change