Dr Bintan Titisari

Profile

I am a design researcher and educator specialising in sustainable textile practices, traditional dyeing techniques, and cross-cultural craft innovation. My academic background bridges design, craft, and sustainability, with a strong focus on revitalising heritage practices in contemporary contexts. I hold a PhD in Design from the University of Leeds, where my doctoral research developed revitalisation strategies for Indonesian stitch-resist dyeing practices through community engagement and design-led innovation. I also hold an MA and BA in Design from the Institute of Technology Bandung (ITB), Indonesia, with a specialisation in textile and fashion craft design.

Currently, I am a Postdoctoral Researcher at the School of Design, University of Leeds, working on Colour4CRAFTS, an EU-funded project that investigates how craft-based colouration and bio-based materials can shape more sustainable futures for the creative industries. I have also contributed to the SMARTEX Project, which supports curriculum development in textile and fashion education in Southeast Asia.

With over a decade of academic experience in Indonesia, Brunei, and the UK, I have taught and developed courses in sustainable fashion, craft design, resist dyeing, and smart textiles. My work often bridges academic research and practice through exhibitions, workshops, and international collaboration. I am passionate about empowering artisan communities, advancing sustainable design education, and building intercultural dialogue through craft.

Some research projects I'm currently working on, or have worked on, will be listed below.

• Colour4CRAFTS: EU-funded initiative on bio-based colouration practices for future textile production. Cultivating craft skills in textile colouration, transform traditional processes, and shape cultural practices into sustainable, cutting-edge solutions for the future of bio-based practices in creative industries and industrial scale textile production (2024–2026)

• SMARTEX: EU-funded for the Modernization of Curriculum of Textile Engineering and Textile Technology in Indonesia, Malaysia, and Pakistan (2020–2023)

• Transformation in Indonesian Fashion Retailing: The Interplay between Products, Consumers, and Retail Marketing Channel (2022)

• Etnography Study of Indonesian Stitch-resist dyeing technique (Case studies: Sasirangan Cloth, Jumputan Cloth, and Pelangi Cloth) (2022)

• Designing Teaching Materials of Traditional and Contemporary Stitch Resist Dyeing Technique Based on Indonesian Traditions (2021).

• Biodegradable Materials-based Rapid Prototyping as a Method of Designing Tools to the Quality and Variety of Stitch-Resist Dyed motifs (2021).

• Revitalisation strategies of Indonesian Stitch-resist Dyeing (Doctoral research).

Research interests

My research explores the intersection of sustainable craft, bio-based textile colourants, and design innovation. I focus on integrating traditional practices with contemporary approaches to sustainability in fashion and textile design. Current projects include the EU-funded Colour4CRAFTS, where I investigate bio-based colouration in craft and industrial contexts, and the SMARTEX project on modernising textile curricula across Asia. My work draws on ethnographic research, sustainable material development, and cross-cultural collaboration to support circular and community-driven design practices.

More about my project and research: www.bintantitisari.com

Qualifications

• PhD in Textile Design Technology, School of Design, University of Leeds
• MA in Design, Faculty of Art and Design, Institut Teknologi Bandung (ITB)
• BA Textile Craft Design,Faculty of Art and Design, Institut Teknologi Bandung (ITB)

Professional memberships

• Society of Dyers and Colourists
• Design Research Society