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Abstract
This article discusses a research project which utilized archive sources to construct the history of an art school fashion show, to examine the event as higher education (HE) learning and teaching method. The study of textiles has been part of the activities of the Glasgow School of Art (GSA) since its inception. Fashion as a discipline resulting in a distinct qualification is relatively new to the School. However, GSA’s fashion show began in 1947 and this article focuses on a study undertaken to celebrate the seventieth-anniversary of the event. The collaborative project involved staff from GSA’s Department of Fashion & Textiles, Archives & Collections (A&C) and Alumni Relations. The GSA archive was essential to the inquiry as it contains a wealth of information relating to the history of the School, its staff and students. The project methodology combined archival investigation, documentary and visual analysis, and participant feedback, towards exhibition curation. Outcomes from the project included an exhibition which ran alongside the 2017 student fashion shows and accompanying student-led events. This article provides insight into the types of archival material utilized and discusses the historical development of the show focusing on its evolving role in learning and teaching. The concluding section proposes areas for further investigation and highlights issues for consideration by collectors, institutions and archives.
Additional information
Notes on contributors
Helena Britt
Dr Helena Britt is Subject Leader Printed Textiles and Undergraduate Coordinator. Research includes investigation surrounding contemporary and historical utilization of archive resources; the impact of digital technologies on printed textiles; textile design education and practice-focused methodologies. Helena holds an MA in Printed Textiles from the Royal College of Art, Ph.D. and PGCert Supervision in Creative Practices from GSA. [email protected]
Susannah Waters
Susannah Waters is Archives and Collections Manager, responsible for all aspects of the service including visitor access, collection management, and outreach & engagement activities. She has worked on a number of exhibitions, seminars and workshops relating to the School’s historical collections and was recently involved in the AHRC-funded Glasgow Miracle Project. Research interests include the use of archives by creative practitioners and the role of historical resources in higher education. Susannah holds an MA(Hons) in History of Art from the University of Glasgow and Masters in Archives and Records Management from the University of Liverpool. She is a registered member of the Archives and Records Association and an Associate Fellow of the Higher Education Academy.
Jimmy Stephen-Cran
Jimmy Stephen-Cran is Head of the Department of Fashion & Textiles and Programme Leader for BA (Hons) and MDes Fashion and Textiles. Research areas include fashion decoration, reinterpretation of archive material and historical decorative processes, drawing for textile design, and explication of textiles and fashion creative process. He holds a Master’s Degree in Fashion from Central Saint Martins and a Bachelor’s Degree in Textiles from Glasgow School of Art.