Research and the Historical Archive of Dress 

28th Nov 2017 - 30th Nov 2017 

TECHNE/AHRC-funded workshop

London College of Fashion/Clothworkers’ Centre, Blythe House, Victoria and Albert Museum

 

This workshop will consist of sessions spread over two days: one day at the Centre for Fashion Curation (28 November 2017), and one morning at the V&A Museum’s Clothworkers’ Centre (30 November). It aims to expand the participants’ understanding of collecting and archiving through the analysis of selected garments and a focus on material object handling practices. These experiences will support participants in addressing questions and practices they may encounter as part of their research.

 

The workshop is intended for the growing number of Ph.D. students engaging with archives of historical dress, costume for performance and related accessories. Deriving from a range of educational and practice backgrounds, the specialist skills inherent to textile object handling, mounting and storing may not be part of their existing knowledge. Although this course will not generate fully knowledgeable experts in archival techniques, its intended outcome is to provide an introduction to the complexities of historical dress handling and insights into the practice of material culture and museology.

 

The training will be delivered by eminent curators and practitioners from the Centre of Fashion Curation at London College of Fashion and from the Clothworkers’ Centre, V&A Museum.

 

Lunch will be provided.

 

Places are limited. To apply, please email: cffc@arts.ac.uk with a brief descriptor of your PhD project, and why and how this workshop would benefit your research (selection of attendees will be based on this). Closing date: Tuesday 31 October 2017.

 

 

Day 1: Tuesday 28 November 2017

 

London College of Fashion

Room 311

20 John Prince’s Street

London W1G 0BJ

 

10.30	Registration
10.45	Donatella Barbieri, Senior Research Fellow, LCF	Welcome and introduction to event
11.00	Prof Amy de la Haye, LCF	Uses of archived dress in the development of historical research and curatorial practice, and object handling session
12.30	Lunch
13.30	Ben Whyman, Manager, CfFC, LCF	Material Culture Analysis and personal reflections of a PhD student working with material objects
14.30	Gesa Werner, Costume Mounting Specialist	Working with garments when researching: packing, handling
16.30		Concluding notes

 

 

Day 2: Thursday 30 November 2017

 

Clothworkers’ Centre

Blythe House 
23 Blythe Rd 
London 
W14 0QX

 

10.20	Registration
10.30	Suzanne Smith, Manager, Clothworkers’ Centre Claire Wilcox, Professor of Fashion Curation	Welcome and introduction to event   Insights into the life of an object in the collection at the V&A, and practical handling session
12.30		Concluding notes