Dr Nkumbu Mutambo

Research Fellow

School: Design Arts and Creative Industries

Research Themes and Scholarly Interests

Dr. Nkumbu Mutambo is a Research Fellow at the School of Design, Arts and Creative Industries at Northumbria University. Her current work adopts an interdisciplinary approach to addressing complex challenges in the field of fashion sustainability. More broadly, her research explores the social role of design, with a particular focus on the significance of heritage in fashion practice. She investigates how designers engage with history, dress, and identity, and how these intersections shape creative processes and cultural expression. In addition to her knowledge of the fashion sector, Nkumbu draws on a wealth of experience gained from working as researcher on multidisciplinary, collaborative projects. These include Creative Fuse Northeast, a knowledge exchange focused initiative aimed at supporting the creative and cultural industry, and ThreadCount, a multi-stakeholder examination of awareness and action towards mitigating microfibre pollution in the fashion industry.

Key Publications

Please visit the Pure Research Information Portal for further information
Repairing and regenerating the community: A study in activating garment repair initiatives with stakeholders at local level , Peirson Smith, A., Wetherell, S., Singer, E., James, A., Irving-Munro, A., Mutambo, N., Nicolson, S. 24 Jun 2025, Proceedings of the 6th Product Lifetimes and the Environment Conference (PLATE2025), Aalborg University
The Care and Repair Guide: Reducing Environmental Impact and Addressing Skills Gaps in Responsible Wardrobe Management, James, A., Peirson-Smith, A., Mutambo, N., Nicolson, S., Wetherell, S., Irving-Munro, A. 24 Jun 2025, Proceedings of the 6th Product Lifetimes and the Environment Conference (PLATE2025), Aalborg, Aalborg University
Cross-disciplinary Collaboration Challenging Microfibre Fragmentation in the Fashion and Textile Industries, James, A., Mutambo, N., Prendergast-Miller, M., Sheridan, K., Rogers, A. 30 Apr 2024, Microfibre Pollution from Textiles, Boca Raton, US, Taylor & Francis
Mapping the Environmental Impact Assessment Landscape in the Fashion and Textile Industries: Critical Gaps and Challenges, Mutambo, N., Peirson-Smith, A., KeChi-Okafor, C., Irving-Munro, A., Sheridan, K., Prendergast-Miller, M., Namdeo, A., Stanton, T., Gallidabino, M., James, A. 26 Sep 2024, In: Sustainability
The Kaunda Suit: Exploring a Legacy of Sartorial Resistance and Self Determination, Mutambo, N. 6 Sep 2024, Border Control
Final degree shows: culmination or invitation?, Simmons, H., Bailey, M., Spencer, N., Hemstock, O., Mutambo, N. 7 Sep 2023, DS 123, Glasgow, The Design Society

Professional Activity

Please visit the Pure Research Information Portal for further information
Organising a conference, workshop, ...: IMPACT+ Symposium 2024
Publication Peer-review: African Journal of Creative Economy (Journal) 2024
Invited talk: Heritage in Zambian Fashion Design Practice 2023
Organising a conference, workshop, ...: National Centre for Academic and Cultural Exchange (NCACE) 2023
Organising a conference, workshop, ...: Creative Fuse Conference 2022
Oral presentation: Heritage In Contemporary Zambian Fashion 2022
Other: Podcast Producer 2022