The Bluestocking Salon: Fashioning Research

The Blue Stocking Society was initially a literary circle in which people, notably including women, could engage intellectually in a way that was uncommon in 1750’s England. The term Blue Stocking became derogatory for educated women, leading to many contemporary iterations of the term being reappropriated as a celebration of feminist intellect. In the early 1900s, Japanese feminist literary magazine Seitō, meaning Bluestockings, was forced to shut down due to its critical stance on politics. In the Lower East Side of New York, Bluestockings bookstore focuses on mutual aid and grassroots publications. Our symposium is inspired by these radical and activist groups to bring our research students together to explore how research and fashion can shape our world.

The Bluestocking Salon is an annual student-led event exploring diverse approaches to research in fashion and related fields. It is designed to inspire the next generation of researchers by offering them a glimpse into the diverse world of London College of Fashion (LCF) PhD projects. It’s a chance to spark meaningful conversations, build our community, and showcase exciting possibilities within fashion research.

This year’s symposium, The Bluestocking Salon: Fashioning Research, brings together roundtable discussions, poster presentations, object-based displays, and a collaborative workshop, alongside a dedicated exhibition in the LCF Library co-created with PhD researchers.

The day will feature:

• Poster presentations introducing a wide range of PhD projects

• Roundtable discussions exploring key research themes

• Object-based displays and time to engage with material research practices

• A Library Showcase exhibition

• A closing interactive workshop

The event is designed to foster conversation, collaboration, and new perspectives on research practice, whether you are currently undertaking a PhD or considering applying.

Themes

Presentations and discussions will respond to the symposium’s core themes:

• Objects, Humans, Environments

• Past, Present, Future

• Journeys, Methodologies, Problematics (explored through poster presentations)

Library Showcase

Running alongside the symposium, the Library Showcase (Open to UAL staff and students from 27 May-9 June) presents PhD research through objects, images, and practice-based outputs.

Developed in collaboration with the LCF Library, this exhibition highlights:

• Object-based and visual research

• Practice-led methodologies

• Experimental approaches to displaying research

During the symposium, there will be time to explore the exhibition.

Why Attend?

• Gain insight into current PhD research at LCF

• Explore different research methods and formats

• Connect with current PhD students and peers

• Learn more about developing and presenting research at doctoral level

• Engage with practice-based and object-led research approaches

Who Should Attend?

This event is aimed at:

• Current PhD students

• Prospective PhD applicants

• Researchers interested in fashion, design, and interdisciplinary practice research

This event is open to UAL staff and students, and the public. Attendees are welcome to drop in at any point throughout the day but should reserve a ticket in advance.

This event will take place in room 117 on the first floor.

A sandwich lunch will be provided for attendees.

Address: London College of Fashion, 105 Carpenter’s Road, London, E20 2AR - how to find us. Watch this video on how to get to LCF from Stratford tube station on the stories highlights on Instagram. Stratford is widely connected, on both the Central and Elizabeth tube Lines as well as via overland train and bus services.

Accessibility information:

For full details on building access and facilities at London College of Fashion (Carpenter’s Road), please see our AccessAble guide: Access Guide

If you have any specific access needs, feel free to contact us. Taxi drop off is available for those with access needs; please see LCF’s website for more information.