Melanie McElvanney

Twitter: @bygoneneedles
Email: melanie.mcelvanney@postgrad.manchester.ac.uk

Thesis Title

Invisible Clothing: The Production of Garments by Women of the Common Sorts, 1660 – 1760

Institution

University of Manchester

Supervisors

Sasha Handley
Hannah Barker

Research Summary

The history of textiles from the long eighteenth century confines most garment production within common homes as linen goods produced for domestic use, or production for the ready-made market or for local people. This thesis used probate inventories, and wills from Cornwall, Kent and Lancashire alongside the analysis of material objects to demonstrate that many plebeian women were able to adapt their skills to produce most of the outer garments they wore on a daily basis.

Research Interests

Textile history,
women’s history
and material history.

Publications

Coming soon