More than Clothing: Textiles at the Frontier of Innovation

When most people think of textiles, they picture clothing, curtains, or upholstery. But textiles are quietly doing much more, helping shape the future of healthcare, sustainability, and technology.

This talk explores the expanding role of textiles across industries and disciplines. From medical fabrics that support healing and safety, to geo-textiles reinforcing environments, to smart e-textiles and materials made from mushrooms or algae-textiles are evolving into tools for innovation and impact.

This session is especially relevant to those working in healthcare, wearable tech, design, and sustainability, as well as students and researchers across science, engineering, and the arts. Whether you’re developing solutions for patient care or rethinking how materials interact with the human body and environment, you’ll gain fresh insight into how textiles influence our lives in ways we often overlook.

Doors Open at 10:30am, Tea, Coffee and light snacks will be available. A brief networking session will follow the talk and Q&A . The session ends at 12:30pm.

About the Speaker

Dr. Syed Naveed Rizvi is a textile researcher with over a decade of experience in textiles, wearable materials, and PPE. He leads applied research projects focused on material innovation, performance testing, and sustainability. Known for his analytical and creative approach, Syed holds a Ph.D. from The University of Manchester and an MSc in Textile Technology. He currently serves as Lead Fabric Scientist and Principal Investigator at George Brown College.

Parking

The University Centre (550 University Ave.) does not have its own parking lot. However, several public parking garages are close by, including on Murray Street (directly behind University Centre). The addresses for those parking garages are:

• 20 Murray St, Toronto, ON M5T 1T7, Canada
• 40 Murray St, Toronto, ON M5T 3L9, Canada
• 60 Murray St, Toronto, ON M5T 3L9, Canada

Street parking is restricted on the streets around our hospitals. Some street parking is available on nearby side streets. Please read parking signs carefully.

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