As part of the ESRC Festival of Science, supported by RAH, Stories of the Unworn and Mapping the body were 3D body scanning and a clothes swap with a difference.

The event showcased the work of two research collaborations currently being conducted in Manchester Fashion Institute. Stories of the Unworn is a partnership with Dr. Kathryn Brownbridge and Dr. Shuyu Lin. The research explores the relationship between unworn items of clothing and the wearers. It questions why such strong attachments are made and aims to raise awareness about the real value of clothing contrasting this with the throwaway nature of fast fashion. Members of the public brought in their unwanted garments for swapping but also brought along items that they would not swap. They wrote the stories of why these garments are loved on labels especially made for the event. These labels were a deliberate substitute for a price ticket and representative of a different set of values that each garment embodied. This event took a playful investigative approach to issues relating to fashion consumption.

Mapping the Body was a parallel event, bringing the work conducted by Dr. Kathryn Brownbridge, Jayne Mechan and Jayne Gill from Manchester Fashion Institute and Dr. Jenny Cole and Professor Sarah Grogan from the department of Psychology to a public audience. Their research focuses on the relationship between fashion, body image and the use of 3D body scanning. The attendees for this event were fascinated by the 3D scanning technology. Presentations showcased the research that has been done on issues around problematic sizing practice and how we have found that the scanning process has potential to be used to change behavior and help women to develop more positive body image.