What鈥檚 in your wardrobe? Exploring the power of stories and connections
This methods@manchester event explored personal clothing stories, showcasing how garments hold memories and foster connections, led by researchers Sophie Woodward, Benjamin Wild, and community leader Jolene Sheehan.
We all have those items of clothing that have sentimental value, acting as reminders of significant moments in our life.
A recent event, 鈥淲hat's In Your Wardrobe? Telling & Sharing Clothing Stories鈥�, encouraged attendees to bring items of clothing, and delve into the associations, memories, and connections these special items held.
It explored how we use stories to understand ourselves and our relationships, encapsulating the principles of the Being Human Festival, which celebrates how the Humanities inspire and enrich our daily lives, and help us navigate a changing world.
The event was held at Ascension Church Hall in Hulme, and featured Jolene Sheehan (community workshop lead, poet, artist, and more), Professor Sophie Woodward (from The University of Manchester鈥檚 Morgan Centre for Research into Everyday Lives), and Dr Benjamin Wild (Reader in Fashion Narratives at 91直播 Fashion Institute, 91直播 Metropolitan University).
All three speakers incorporate storytelling into their work. For Sophie and Ben, stories are the threads that connect us to our lives, identities, and imaginations. Jolene leads the project, which aims to connect people to each other, themselves, and their memories through writing. We were delighted to have a number of participants from this project join us for the event.
The stories behind the items of clothing were moving, engaging and uplifting.
One woman brought a prayer dress, a loose-fitting garment with a scarf, typically worn by Muslim women during prayer. This item has gained additional significance during the Israel-Gaza conflict, as Palestinian women have taken to wearing their prayer clothes day and night, staying covered and prepared for any situation.
Another attendee brought the dress she wore on her first date with her then-boyfriend (now husband) nearly 40 years ago. The dress has adapted with changing fashions and hemlines but has remained a constant in her life, standing in stark contrast to the fast fashion dominating our high streets.
Such items and shared stories were deeply individual, yet they connected people within the room and beyond, highlighting important familial relationships and communities bound by empathy and solidarity.
鈥淭alking is important鈥� said one attendee and I couldn鈥檛 agree more.
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