New Leadership at SDC: Liz Straughan to Guide Color Professional Certification in 2026-27

The Society of Dyers and Colourists (SDC), a UK-based educational charity and global professional body for color professionals, has elected Liz Straughan as its president for the 2026-27 term. This leadership change occurs at a pivotal moment when the textile industry is grappling with digital transformation and stricter sustainability regulations.

Background

SDC, founded in the late 19th century, has long been the authority on professional certification in textile dyeing and color management. The election comes as global supply chains demand higher color consistency standards. Brands and retailers are upgrading requirements for dye fastness and color tolerance, making SDC’s role in setting international color standards more critical than ever.

Liz Straughan’s tenure will coincide with the industry’s accelerated shift from physical color cards to digital spectral data exchange. Whether SDC’s certification system will incorporate digital color workflow competencies will be a key question for the new president.

Industry Impact

For textile fabric buyers, the leadership change signals continuity in certification authority. Major fast-fashion brands and high-end fabric suppliers currently regard SDC certification as a quality endorsement. The new president’s industry background will directly influence whether certification standards become more commercially relevant.

From the perspective of dye chemical companies upstream, SDC’s color standards directly affect product compliance testing. If the new leadership pushes standards toward sustainable dyes, suppliers will need to adjust R&D priorities. The tightening of PFAS restrictions in Europe has already forced many dye manufacturers to reformulate, and an updated SDC standard could accelerate this trend.

For testing laboratories and third-party agencies, the SDC transition may bring updates to training courses and exam content. The refresh cycle for professional certifications like Color Management Technician and Dyer typically spans 3-5 years, which aligns with the new president’s term.

Practical Recommendations

For Buyers - Monitor SDC certification standard updates, especially any new color fastness regulations expected around 2026, and adjust supply chain testing requirements accordingly. - Use SDC certification as a supplementary supplier screening criterion, but combine it with an assessment of digital color management capabilities. - Establish long-term partnerships with SDC-accredited laboratories to ensure authoritative third-party involvement in color disputes.

For Foreign Trade Companies - For orders destined for Europe, pay special attention to the intersection of SDC certification and EU REACH regulations to avoid conflicts that could lead to returns. - If clients require reports from SDC-accredited labs, identify domestic laboratories with SDC qualification in advance to shorten testing lead times. - Watch for whether the new president promotes digital color certificates; if so, invest in color measurement equipment and software systems ahead of time.