IMPROVING sustainability within the fashion industry is something that Heriot-Watt students are committed to achieving.

And their efforts were praised by Aileen McLeod, former MEP, who used her last day as a member of the European Parliament to meet with students.

The under-graduates at Heriot-Watt's School of Textiles and Design in Galashiels come from across Europe to study MSc Ethics in Fashion.

Last Friday's visit, the same day the UK officially left the European Union, saw Ms McLeod tour the campus and spoke to French students who can study in Scotland thanks to the support available through the international Erasmus study programme.

Ms McLeod is a passionate advocate for the environment, having previously worked as a Scottish Government Environment minister.

She said: “It was great to visit the Heriot-Watt School of Textiles and see first-hand how staff and students are working together to build Scotland as a centre of sustainable textile development.

“This is an exciting area and it's tremendously heartening to know that so many of our best and brightest are directly involved in its development.”

During her time on campus she also talked about how she believes it is vital that educational and research links with European countries are maintained following our exit from the EU to support a sustainable future.

Her visit left a lasting impression on the students as Dr Aude Le Guennec, director of Fashion Studies, said her discussion “resonated in the minds of both HWU and Erasmus students”.