Directors

Andrea Benahmed-Djilali
Founder & Director

Andrea Benahmed-Djilali is the Founder and Director of Circular Fashion Incubator CIC, a Leeds-based social enterprise working across circular fashion, sustainability education, heritage craft, and community-led creative practice.

With a background in fashion design, repair and restoration, Andrea established Circular Fashion Incubator CIC to support designers, artists, students and communities through international events, exhibitions, competitions, workshops and educational programmes. She is the creator and lead organiser of the International Circular Fashion Week Conference and the International Circular Fashion Competition, which bring together emerging and established creatives, academics, industry professionals and community partners from the UK and internationally.

Andrea’s work focuses on promoting circular design thinking, cultural heritage, skills development and responsible practice within the fashion and creative industries. She has delivered sustainability-focused workshops with schools and universities and works closely with academic and cultural partners to ensure strong educational and social impact.

As Director, Andrea leads the organisation’s strategic direction, partnerships, programme development, fundraising activity and governance, ensuring that Circular Fashion Incubator CIC remains accessible, inclusive and impact-driven.

Dr. Esther Pugh

Director

Dr Esther Pugh is a Senior Lecturer at Leeds Business School, Leeds Beckett University, and a circular fashion ambassador and practitioner. Her expertise spans circular, vintage and slow fashion retail, consumer culture, and the sensory retail experience. With a background in visual merchandising for global brands Oasis and Coast, and experience running a vintage fashion business, Esther bridges academic research and industry practice. She is passionate about student-centred learning, pop-up retail, and real-world education that builds employability and a sense of belonging.