Falmouth textile designer reaches finals of H&M Foundation’s Global Change Award
07 April 2026
BA(Hons) Textile Design graduate and technician Meredith Wood has reached the finals of the H&M Foundation’s Global Change Award (GCA) through the work of her company Colour Earth.
Meredith co-founded the company—sitting at the intersection of design, plant science and material engineering—alongside fellow creatives Aurélie Fontan and Chris Ferguson. Bringing together expertise spanning fashion and textiles, bio-design, ecotoxicology and rewilding, Colour Earth is driven by a mission to bridge the gap between science and design, conducting research that challenges conventional approaches within the dye industry. With plans to release journals and a short documentary, Colour Earth aims to share its findings and inspire change.
It is this pioneering approach that has earned Colour Earth a Top 20 finalist spot in this year’s GCA, a prestigious initiative supporting early-stage innovations aimed at decarbonising the fashion and textile industry. The team now looks ahead to the next stage of the competition, where ten finalists will be selected to participate in a year-long changemaker programme and compete for a significant cash prize.
At the heart of Meredith’s work with Colour Earth lies a critical issue: the environmental impact of synthetic pigments. Widely used across textiles, coatings, inks and materials design, these pigments are typically derived from energy-intensive petrochemical processes. In response, Colour Earth is developing innovative methods for producing plant-based pigments suitable for modern manufacturing. Their product, Regen Ink, combines plant-derived materials with improved extraction and processing technologies to offer scalable, lower-impact alternatives to traditional colourants.
About Meredith
Meredith’s journey into textile design began with a deep appreciation for both environment and creativity. Drawn to Falmouth initially for her Art Foundation course, she found herself captivated not only by the coastal setting but its inspiring campuses and facilities. “The beach was a big factor in deciding to move down to Falmouth, as well as the beautiful campuses!” she explains. “The facilities within the Fashion and Textiles Institute are incredibly inspiring and well-equipped, which gave me the space and resources to experiment, develop my ideas and refine my practice. Being surrounded by such a creative community, alongside the coast, has really influenced my work.”
During her time on the Textile Design course, Meredith refined her practice as a print designer, gaining both confidence and clarity in her creative direction. “A key turning point came through collaborations with fashion students, where I saw my designs come to life on the body for the first time”, she recalls. “It changed how I thought about scale, placement and movement within my designs. Through a combination of workshops, industry briefs and self-directed projects, I was able to experiment with a wide range of print techniques, from screen printing to digital processes.”
For Meredith, working in sustainable textiles is both a challenge and a source of motivation, as she explains: “The fashion and textile industry has to change and move towards a more ethical and sustainable future. It can be difficult to tackle the issues our industry currently faces, but also an exciting opportunity to create something better. Being part of that shift, and contributing to a more thoughtful and responsible way of designing, is what makes pursuing a career in sustainable textiles meaningful to me.”
Reflecting on her own educational experience, Meredith strongly advocates for studying fashion or textiles at degree level. “University gives you the time, space and support to develop your creative identity while building strong technical and conceptual skills,” she says. “And it also offers valuable opportunities to collaborate, gain industry insight, and experiment in new ways, helping you grow both professionally and personally.”
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