I launched my business as a freelance researcher and maker of historical dress in 2017.  

I have had the privilege of studying historical dress with some of the most knowledgeable historians and skilled artisans in the world, people who have devoted much of their lives to studying the 18th century, its social structures, economic and political contexts, and its material culture, addressing the whats, whos, wheres, whens, hows and whys of clothing production, reproduction and recycling… people who have been generous about sharing their knowledge and skills with others, inspiring me to follow their example.

My main passion is the all-too-brief period of time when women’s fitted garments were made by skilled tradeswomen - what I call the Golden Age of the Mantua Maker.

Since 2017, I have

• delivered three public history programs in Scottish museums and heritage sites, making 18th-century gowns in front of visitors to demonstrate how 18th century mantua makers worked;

• undertaken research and provided interpretative tools for an online exhibition of Scottish historical dress;

• given talks about aspects of 18th century fashions and garment making for museums, heritage sites and costume societies in England, Scotland and the eastern USA;

• designed and delivered an intensive two-week work experience placement in 18th century garment making skills for one of the UK’s leading undergraduate degree programs for costume production;

• and along the way stitched many garments for re-enactors and living historians across the UK and USA.

I am a current member of The Costume Society (UK), Southern Counties Costume Society (UK), Costume Society of Scotland, Association of Dress Historians, The Costume Society of America, Dress and Textile Specialists (DATS), Costume & Textile Association, Women’s History Network, Women’s History Scotland, Royal Historical Society, Economic and Social History Society of Scotland, British Association for Local History, Scottish Local History Forum and Interpret Europe.