Saturday 18 March 2023
Bath and County Club, Queen's Parade, Queen's Square, Bath BA1 2NJ
Speakers will include Paul Ince on umbrellas, Carly Eck from the media department of Burberry to talk about its foundation and history, Kassia St Clair about space age fabrics and Gail Stewart-Bye.
Mushs, Gamps and Bumbershoots! Richard Ince will talk through the history of his business and its relationship with trends and external factors that have shaped the company’s course. He will also chat about how Umbrellas are made and the major changes the industry has experienced.
Richard is the current managing director of James Ince & Sons (Umbrellas) Ltd, who have been making umbrellas since 1805 in East London, making them the UK’s oldest umbrella manufacturer. The company is still family owned and run and he is the 6th generation.
Designed to Protect: The Story of Burberry Outerwear Carly Eck is the curator of the Brand Archive at Burberry where she is responsible for the company’s heritage and archive. Having gained an MA in the History of Design at the RCA/V&A, specialising in dress, she has previously worked at museums and other corporate archives. Carly’s research has been published and she was a contributor to the V&A’s book on London Couture: Luxury 1923-1975.
Outside of her role at Burberry, Carly is currently researching what gardeners wear for an exhibition and publication.y where she is responsible for the company’s heritage and archive.
Four Textile Tales Kassia St. Clair will weave four tales, showcasing the magic of textiles and showing that cloth is one of humanity’s most versatile, reliable and underappreciated technologies. She will take you from Viking woollen sails to the lace ruffs beloved by Queen Elizabeth I and from the caves inhabited by Neolithic man to the furthest reaches of explored space.
Kassia is author of The Golden Thread.
Our final speaker is Gail Stewart-Bye, the Senior Curator of the costume collection at the Beaulieu National Motor Museum, who will talk about early motoring clothing, both men's and women's.
Sorry, the deadline for on-line booking for this event has passed. Please email us at bookings@wofecostumesociety.org.