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.

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.