Betty Smithers Design Collection at Staffordshire University

A recent project at the Betty Smithers Design Collection at Staffordshire University demonstrates how collections can provide an alternative approach to enhance the student experience. A severely visually impaired student on placement at the Collection undertook a project on the changing attitudes toward clothing. Because of the BSDC approach to handling objects, she was able to ‘read’ how garments from the ‘Make Do and Mend’ era compared to modern disposable fashion from outlets such as Primark. By being able to feel the different fabrics used and the different methods of construction she could investigate and contrast the making processes used then and now.