A cultural historian, I am interested in the function of stories and the utility of storytelling to spur social responsibility and behaviour change, chiefly within the fashion industry.

I believe history is a dynamic agent in people’s lives that informs their values and behaviours. I seek to understand how the past shapes the stories people tell about themselves, their communities and cultures, and the form these stories take when expressed through materiality, particularly dress, to spark critical reflection about the role of storytelling and culture in sustaining action to tackle the global challenges the fashion industry poses.

I am currently Reader in Fashion Narratives within Manchester Fashion Institute, Manchester Metropolitan University.