Skip to main content

LCF Archives

A grey two piece suit, on separate cream bodice and legs mannequins, supported by black metal stands, on a white backdrop
A grey two piece suit, on separate cream bodice and legs mannequins, supported by black metal stands, on a white backdrop
Tommy Nutter two-piece men's suit, 1972, part of the LCF Archives. Photo: Shengdi Cui.

The LCF Archives are a set of eccentric and eclectic collections that explore the history of London as a fashion capital.

The LCF Archives are a teaching collection and research resource that can be used to inform, inspire and engage students, staff and members of the public.

We collect material that reflects the full fashion life cycle. We also frame fashion as a social subject by looking at the stories that our clothes can tell us.

How to access the LCF Archives

Contact us

archives@fashion.arts.ac.uk

Our Collections

A double page spread of a note book showing brown and blue tie-dye samples sits in front of a white backdrop. Under the samples there is a paragraph of text explaining the process of how they were made.
Anne Maile tie-dye samples, c.1960-70s. Photo: Nian Xu.

Anne Maile Archive

Examples of early modern tie-dye techniques by textile designer Anne Maile, c.1920-1980. The collection consists of textile samples and notes, artworks, student work, teaching and research notes, an autobiography, films, and photographs.

Explore the Anne Maile Archive online catalogue.

A double page spread catalogue showing black and white illustrations of women's fashion from 1916, including long coats and hats.
Burberry Topcoats and Gowns Catalogue, c.1916. Photo: Laisul Hoque.

Burberry Catalogues Collection

A collection of catalogues of Burberry Ltd. clothing and footwear for men, women and children, c.1910-1950. Cuttings in folders of Burberry catalogues, advertisements, and newspaper articles.

A black and white photo of a man and a woman in a workroom, standing in front of stockman bust mannequins. The woman is on the right and is modelling a long check coat, and the man is on the left and crouching and pointing to details on the coat.
C&A workers, c.1950s-60s. Photo: Mark Gerson.

C&A Archive

Garments and fashion advertisements designed by Marrit Seck produced by C&A Ltd., clothing retailers and manufacturers. Additional materials relating to the history of the company are held in the UAL Archives and Special Collections Centre.

Explore the C&A Archive catalogue online.

A blue and white polka dot child's dress with two white bows and puff sleeves and a peter pan collar on a cream mannequin bust.
Child's dress by Carfax, c.1997. Photo: Shengdi Cui.

Childrenswear Collections

Examples of childrenswear from c.1930s –1970s. Includes day wear, occasion wear, headwear, a collection of Biba childrenswear, and garments from the Borron family.

Fashion illustration with the title 'The Drapers' Record', featuring a woman in a blue dress with long flowy sleeves and scarf headpiece, in front of a background of blue skies, cherry blossoms and trees.
Drapers' Record cover, March 21st 1903. Photo: LCF Archives.

EMAP Archive of Trade Journals

This collection contains key trade journals published by EMAP for the fashion, clothing and retail industries dating from the 1880s to the present day. Journals include Drapers' Record, Menswear, Fashion Weekly, footwear trade titles and more.

Explore article titles, searchable on the UAL libraries catalogue.

A dark brown ankle boot from the 1870s, with a short heel, five button fastenings and decorative top-stitching.
Leather ankle boot, c.1870s. Photo: VADS.

Footwear Collections

This collection contains over 650 shoes from 1780 to the present day. Collections include the Cordwainers College Archive (developed to support the teaching of footwear design and construction), Charles Moykopf Ltd., and shoes of individual Londoners.

Discover the Cordwainers College Archive via the Visual Arts Data Service.

A postcard featuring a black and white photograph a Gaiety girl standing up and leaning on a stool, wearing a flared ruffled dress and matching hat.
Gaiety Girl postcard of Gabrielle Ray, 1903. Photo: LCF Archives.

Gaiety Girl Collection

This collection primarily consists of postcards of the Gaiety girls, along with various publications, journals, letters, cuttings and magazine articles on Edwardian musical theatre, dating from 1898-2008.


Explore the Gaiety Girl Collection online catalogue.

A black and white photo of cosmetics lined up, including lipstick, lip liner and nail polish from the 1950s.
Gala Cosmetics lipstick, lip liner and nail polish, c.1950. Photo: VADS/Photo Process Co.

Gala Collection

This collection contains newspaper and magazine clippings, publicity and promotional photographs and materials for Gala Cosmetic, Crystal Products, and Miner's Cosmetics from 1939-1952.

Discover the Gala Collection via the Visual Arts Data Service.

Three rows of four square fabric swatches sit in front of a white background. The swatches are bright and colourful earthy tones mostly of brown, orange, cream, green, yellow and pink.
Hayes Textiles swatches, c.1960s-90s. Photo: LCF Archives.

Hayes Textiles Ltd. Collection

A large collection of textile swatches and pattern books showing the varied patterns and colours used by Hayes Ltd, a British company, to design and manufacture head clothes for the Nigerian market from the 1960s.

Explore the Hayes Textiles Collection online catalogue.

A black and grey transparent dress made of plastic materials with repeated holes throughout.
Helen Storey Wonderland dress, 2008. Photo: Shengdi Cui.

Helen Storey Foundation Archive

This archive documents seven Helen Storey Foundation projects from 1995 onwards including Wonderland, Catalytic Clothing and Dress For Our Time, as well as Helen Storey’s personal and business papers. Materials include paper-based work, design illustrations, correspondence, press material, material samples, digital records and garments.

Explore the Helen Storey Foundation Archive online catalogue.

A black and white photo of three students dressing mannequins with dresses, students are wearing white coats and have short 1920s-style bob haircuts, two mannequins featuring 1920s-style dresses.
Barrett Street students, c.1930. Photo: VADS.

History of London College of Fashion Collection

This collection contains items relating to the history of London College of Fashion, from its original trade schools at Barrett Street, Shoreditch, Clapham and Cordwainer's School.

Explore the History of LCF Collection online catalogue.

Discover photographs from the collection via the Visual Arts Data Service.

Seven light pink artificial flower samples of varying sizes sit flat in front of a white background, they each have a small brown label underneath with a unique identifying number.
Louis Bund flower samples, c.1950s. Photo: LCF Archives.

Louis Bund Collection

Louis Bund Ltd supplied textile flowers to London's fashion and clothing trades. The collection contains a salesman box with around 250 sample flowers and individual vintage flowers, c.1950s.

Explore the Louis Bund Collection online catalogue.

Four makeup items including, a case holding eyeshadow, mascara and lipstick, a palette of colourful makeup 'crayons', a silver tin on makeup crayons, and false eyelashes.
Mary Quant makeup, c.1960s. Photo: Nian Xu.

Mary Quant Makeup Collection

A collection of 30 items of make-up from fashion designer Mary Quant's make-up range from the 1960s.

Explore the Mary Quant Makeup Collection online catalogue.

A two-piece suit jacket and waistcoat are mounted on a cream mannequin bust, against a white backdrop. The suit is a deep purple colour with a mauve piping around the edges, and exaggerated lapel.
Tommy Nutter suit, 1972. Photo: Shengdi Cui.

Menswear Collections

Menswear collections, dating largely from the 20th century, including Savile Row tailors such as Tommy Nutter, Huntsman and Henry Poole. Other garments include individual wardrobes such as Francis Golding, Percy Savage and uniforms from the London 2012 Olympics.

A black and white photograph of a white middle-aged woman with a dark blunt bob haircut talking and making gestures with her hands, sitting alongside a white middle-aged man in a suit who is leaning his chin on his hand with his arm resting on the table. They are sitting at what looks like a table setting in a dining room.
Percy Savage photographed with Mary Quant. Photo: M. Duffy.

Oral Histories of British Fashion Collection

A collection of oral history interviews in partnership with the British Library, conducted between 2003-2006 with people prominent in the fashion industry.

A 1940s dressmaking pattern for cami knickers, featuring a red backdrop and text that reads: 'The Practical Patterns'. There is a black and white fashion illustration of a woman wearing a camisole dress.
The 'Practical' Patterns, Practical Fashions, c.1940s. Photo: VADS.

Paper Patterns Collection

This collection contains commercially published patterns for home dressmaking, c.1920s-1970s. Images and descriptions of the front covers can be accessed via the Visual Arts Data Service.

Discover the Paper Patterns Collection via the Visual Arts Data Service.

A double page spread of a book showing illustrations and text relating to mens suit tailoring and patterns.
The Cutter’s Practical Guide, W. D. F Vincent and P. Thickett, 20th Century. Photo: Laisul Hoque.

Tailoring and Garment Production Collections

Documents and ephemera from trade bodies and organisations involved in tailoring. Includes: the Business Archives Council Collection; Cooling Lawrence and Wells Collection; London Alliance of West End Cutters Collection; Tailor and Cutter Academy papers; and the Basic Tailors and Outfitters Assistants' General Friendly Society Collection.

Explore the Cooling Lawrence and Wells Collection, London Alliance of West End Cutters Collection, and Tailor and Cutter Academy Archive online catalogues.

A white lace bra sits against a white backdrop, next to a square packaging box from the 1950s which reads 'St Michael, pre-formed bra, medium cup, 34'. The packaging has a black and white photo of a woman wearing the bra
St. Michael pre-formed bra, c.1950s. Photo: Shengdi Cui.

Underwear Collections

This collection largely consists of lingerie, underwear, corsetry, original packaging and brochures from the Lorraine Smith Underwear Collection. Examples date from 1930s-2010s.

An open A3 sketchbook sits against a white backdrop. The pages feature two fashion sketches of blonde women, both wearing black dresses. One of the dresses is a lace with a cinched waist, and full circle skirt. The other is black and silky, with a cinched waist and flowy midi skirt.
Victor Stiebel sketchbook, 1961-63. Photo: Nian Xu.

Victor Stiebel Sketchbooks

Three sketchbooks from the London-based couturier, working between 1940s to 1960s. Images and descriptions of many of the sketches can be accessed via the Visual Arts Data Service.

Discover the Victor Stiebel Sketchbooks via the Visual Arts Data Service.

A small open notebook sits in front of a white background, the notebook has two colourful knitting samples on one side, and on the opposite page there is text describing knitting techniques.
Women's Home Industries sample book, c.1947-53. Photo: Nian Xu.

Women's Home Industries Archive

This collection contains knitting patterns, a visitor's book, press cuttings, stitch books and garments from the Women's Home Industries (also known as Beatrice Bellini Hand Knits) from 1947 to 2005.

Explore the Women's Home Industries Archive online catalogue.

A blue heavily embellished dress bodice sits on a white mannequin, against a white background. The bodice of the dress had a high neck, and triangular shape sleeveless cut.
Christian Dior gown, c.1960s. Photo: Shengdi Cui.

Womenswear Collections

We hold several collections of women's dress from the Victorian era to present day. The key 20th century collections include garments worn by the Korner Family, the Ann Barr Estate, Miss Hester Borron, and Jenifer Rosenberg. The collections include couture day and evening wear, mass produced clothing, homemade items, hats, gloves and accessories, Helanca knitwear, and printed ephemera.

Explore the Cecile Korner Collection, Hester Borron Collection, Jenifer Rosenberg Collection, and Hat Collection online catalogues.

A black and white photo of three women in front of a white backdrop, holding their arms out and wearing long wool tunics with underarm cut-outs, one white fabric and two in dark fabrics. Two of the women are wearing black beanies.
Pierre Cardin designs, 1971. Photo: VADS.

Woolmark Photographic Archive

This extensive collection contains photographs of womenswear and menswear (couture and prêt a porter) and related promotional materials from the Woolmark company. The collection covers 1940s-1970s.

Discover the Woolmark Photographic Archive via the Visual Arts Data Service.

Explore UAL Digital Collections

ASK - find answers to common questions