Unseen: examining underwear dress techniques and practices around the Textiles and Dress Collection’s Men’s Bodywear Collection and/or Ivy Leaf Corsetry Collection

This Research & Knowledge Exchange Doctoral Project brief summarises our priority areas of research interest under the heading of: Unseen: examining underwear dress techniques and practices around the Textiles and Dress Collection’s Men’s Bodywear Collection and/or Ivy Leaf Corsetry Collection.

We welcome all research degree applications aligned with and in response to this brief.

The FTI’s Textiles and Dress Collection has acquired two important collections of underwear: The Men’s Bodywear Collection, comprising undergarments and swimwear from c1950 to c2010, and the Ivy Leaf Corsetry Collection, comprising women’s corsetry and ephemera from c1930-c1980.   

There is an existing body of research around 19th Century corsetry but the everyday underwear of twentieth century men and women remains largely unexplored in academic literature. The collections provide an opportunity to conduct object based historical research into dress practices including the manufacture and fitting of corsetry and men’s bodywear for a wide range of bodies and ages, and the consumption thereof in the UK. 

Projects deriving from this brief are expected to sit within the Research & Knowledge Exchange strategy and the following department.

All successful research degree project proposals must emphasise a clear alignment between the project idea and our Research & Knowledge Exchange strategy.