Tailored Trades: Clothes, Labour and Professional Communities (1880-1939): Project Material on Website

The research network 'Tailored Trades: Clothes, Labour and Professional Communities, 1880-1939' was funded by the Arts and Humanities Research Council and investigated how clothes and labour influenced and assisted in the development of professional communities at the turn of the twentieth century (1880-1939). The Principal Investigator was Dr Vike Plock from Exeter University, while the Co-Investigator was a member of the Histories of Activism group at Northumbria University, Dr Nicole Robertson. 

The Tailored Trades website contains an archive of network events, which ran during 2013-14. Activities included academic workshops at Northumbria University (involving other members of the Histories of Activism group) and Exeter University, public lectures and school study days at the Bishopsgate Institute (London), an exhibition at the People's History Museum  (Manchester), and a concluding network conference 'Clothes, Working Lives and Social Change (1880-1939)'.  You can listen to podcasts (including a recording of a paper by Histories of Activism group member Dr Charlotte Alston) and view digitised material and descriptions from network events on the project’s website.

'Tailored Trades' conference at the Bishopsgate Institute

The conference of the AHRC- funded network ‘Tailored Trades: clothes, labour and professional identity 1880-1939’ took place on 12 and 13 September. This research network, coordinated by Nicole Robertson (Northumbria University) and Vike Plock (University of Exeter), is a series of linked workshops and public events investigating the significance of clothes and costumes in the development of professional communities. The network conference, ‘Clothes, Working Lives and Social Change’, explored the relationship between work, clothes and identities during the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. This two-day, interdisciplinary event brought together scholars from across the Humanities, Creative Arts and Museum sector to examine the intersecting histories of clothes and labour. It was hosted by the Bishopsgate Institute (London), project partners in the ‘Tailored Trades’ network. Keynote lectures were given by Professor Lou Taylor (University of Brighton) and Professor Eugenia Paulicelli (Queen’s College and The Graduate Center City University of New York). Further information about the conference and the network (including Podcasts of the workshop papers) can be accessed on the Tailored Trades project website. 

Workshop on 'Women, Clothes and the New Workforce'

The fourth workshop in the 'Tailored Trades: Clothes, Labour and Professional Communities, 1880-1939'  project took place on 14 July 2014.  This AHRC-funded research network is co-ordinated by Nicole Robertson (Northumbria University) and Vike Plock (Exeter University).  The  July workshop dealt with the subject of  ‘Women, Clothes and the New Workforce’ and was held in Exeter.  This one-day event examined the role of clothing in discourses on women’s professional opportunities. Papers were given by Lucy Noakes (University of Brighton), Becky Munford (Cardiff University), Fiona Hackney (Falmouth University) and Rhonda Garelick (University of Nebraska-Lincoln).  Topics explored during this workshop included: feminine and military identities in First World War Britain; Virginia Woolf, trousers and the work of the woman writer; dress and workplace identities in British women’s magazines; and Coco Chanel, myth and fashion. The final event of the research network is the 'Clothes, Working Lives and Social Change' conference that takes place 12-13 September at the Bishopsgate Institute (London).  Further details can be found on the 'Tailored Trades' website.

AHRC Research Network Workshop: Labour Behind the Label: Working with Textiles, Northumbria University, 8 November 2013

This one-day AHRC-funded cross-disciplinary workshop will investigate the impact that operational and professional developments in the British textile industry had on workers and workers’ communities. Organised as part of the ‘Tailored Trades Tailored Trades: clothes, labour and professional identity 1880-1939’ research network, speakers will include Dr Pete Maw (University of Leeds), Dr Sally Tuckett (University of Edinburgh), Professor Jutta Schwarzkopf (Bielefeld University), Dr Janet Greenlees (Glasgow Caledonian University) and Professor Joseph Melling (University of Exeter). The event will take place at Northumbria University on 8 November. For further information, please visit the event pages. After the event, you will also be able to access podcasts from the project site.

AHRC Research Network Workshop: Uniforms and Identity, Northumbria University, 13 September 2013

This one-day AHRC-funded workshop was held at Northumbria University as part of the ‘Tailored Trades Tailored Trades: clothes, labour and professional identity 1880-1939’ research network. The event examines the role of clothes and textiles (especially uniforms) in the organisation of professional and social groups. Organised by Nicole Robertson (Northumbria University) and Vike Plock (University of Exeter), speakers included a member of the Histories of Activism group, Dr Charlotte Alston (Northumbria University), who presented a paper on ‘Ethics and Identity: Dressing for the Simple Life in the Late Nineteenth Century’.  Other speakers included  Dr Clare Rose (The Royal School of Needlework), Dr Laura Ugolini (University of Wolverhampton), Dr Geraldine Biddle-Perry (Central St Martins College of Art & Design) and Professor Mike French (University of Glasgow).  Podcasts of the papers can be found here.

Tailored Trade: Clothes, Labour and Professional Identity, 1880-1939

The AHRC-funded 'Tailored Trades' network is coordinated by Nicole Robertson (Northumbria University) and Vike Plock (University of Exeter). It involves a series of linked workshops and public events, investigating the significance of clothes and costumes in the development of professional communities. Partners include the Bishopsgate Institute (London) and the People’s History Museum (Manchester).  The network conference will take place on 12-13 September at the Bishopsgate Institute. You can find further information about the network via the project website.