After lunch which was provided by a local caterer, we were delighted to welcome Debra Roberts as our afternoon speaker. As part of a very active and successful Dress & Textile network, Debra teaches BA Textiles at Leeds College of Art.

As a mature-student, she achieved her MA with Distinction for a research project funded by the AHRC. From a fragment of French Lyons silk bought from the Manchester Antique Fair, Comfortableon sale Debra was able to piece together the whole life and history of the original 18th century source-garment, reconstructing the sack-back gown with a passionate forensic insight into the historical biography of the dress.

With the conservation of a similar dress well under way in Preston, thanks to NSCT support, it was especially interesting to discover Debra's intriguing story.