LOCKDOWN CLOTHING: RE-BOOT

In April, fashion historian Lorraine Smith and FRN’s own Jana Melkumova-Reynolds launched Lockdown Clothing, an online project documenting the way people dress, and feel about their clothes, in lockdown. Participants were asked to choose and answer five questions inviting them to reflect on their changing relationship with dress in the quarantine era, and supply images to illustrate their answers. Over 40 people participated, providing fascinating stories of dressing up, dressing down or hardly dressing at all; of garments taking on new roles – as cherished companions, as life-spaces, as anchors of the self and reminders of life before the pandemic; and of a newly found importance of mending and caring for clothes. The information about the project, list of questions and links to responses can be found here, and Jana’s reflection on the project here. Jana has spoken about Lockdown Clothing at The New Normal: Sartorial Practices of the Quarantine Era conference organised by the New Literary Observer (recording here), and Lorraine at the Dress in a Time of Crisis symposium at the Dress in Context Research Centre (recording here).

As the world is seeing a new wave of lockdowns, Lockdown Clothing has been relaunched in order to capture a new set of stories. Just like before, anyone can take part. Select 5 questions from the list and email your answers, along with at least one photo illustrating them, to contactlori@gmail.com. The photos do not need to feature the respondent’s face. Stories will be published on the project’s page.