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Missing Pieces: Making Archive Costumes ...

AUB Campus | Opening 12/06/2026

Missing Pieces: Making Archive Costumes Complete

Curated by Martha Grubb

Created by Associate Professor Rebecca Pride | A collaborative project between MA Historical Costume and AUB Costume Archive supported The Gallery, in partnership with AUB Charitable Foundation, Honorary Fellow – Vice Chancellor’s Office and the Technical Services Team

Martha Faye Grubb

Martha Faye Grubb is an MA Historical Costume student at Arts University Bournemouth (AUB). She graduated with a BA (Hons) Photography...

Associate Professor Rebecca Pride

Rebecca graduated as a theatre designer from the Slade School of Fine Art in 1988. Then in 2005...

Acknowledgements

Thank you to the following people for their contribution to Missing Pieces: Making Archive Costumes Complete:

Associate Professor Rebecca Pride, creator and coordinator of the Missing Pieces project.
Victoria Adams, AUB costume archivist.
TheGallery Team – Violet M McClean, TheGallery Curator, William Hernandez Abreu for exhibition management and installation.
Gemma Summerell, Senior Technician for MA Historical Costume, MA Fashion Innovation, BA (Hons) Costume, BA (Hons) Fashion and Textiles Design on exhibition logistics.
Emily Gibson, exhibition photographer.
The Missing Pieces makers – Amanda Burch, Heidi McEvoy-Swift, Chloë Scrivener, Eleanor Soulsby, Lily Stratford and Claire Wilson.

Thank you all for your support. Missing Pieces would not be possible without you.

A woman in a period costume sits in a woodland, holding a stem of bluebells and smelling it.

Coloured sketch of a person in a red multi-layered dress with fabric samples lying on the paper.

Model stood in a 1920s beaded dress replica with cape and headdress, light blue and embroidered with gold patterning with a feathered headdress.

Model wearing a cream-coloured 18th century costume and powdered wig, posing with his hands on his lapels.

Student working on a pair of historical-style waistcoats lying on a long table.

Woman in blue period dress with gold floral embroidery, patterned sleeves, white lace collar, and long auburn plait.

Close-up of the front of a blue dress showing floral embroidery.

Distorted image of a historical costume on a mannequin.

Close-up of part of the back panel of a green silk 19th century dress.

Featured partnerships

TheGallery is an award-winning, internationally-recognised space that provides a wide-reaching public platform for the arts within the sub-region. Reflecting AUB's shared commitment to excellence in education, industry and practice, TheGallery enables the university to enact its core values: Innovative, Collaborative, Connected and Passionate.

Throughout the year, TheGallery delivers a diverse programme of exhibitions, events and projects in collaboration with stakeholders across the University, creating opportunities for students and staff to present their disciplines, courses, practices and creative work.

Missing Pieces: Making Archive Costumes Complete is an example of these collaborative projects, developed in partnership with MA Historical Costume and the AUB Costume Archive, and supported by AUB Charitable Foundation, the Honorary Fellow – Vice-Chancellor’s Office and the Technical Services Team. In this project, TheGallery team led on curatorial development and exhibition design in collaboration with AUB project partners.

The work of TheGallery embodies the University’s commitment to civic and cultural engagement for positive impact, and its dedication to ensuring that education and the arts are accessible to all, both within AUB and beyond.

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MA Historical Costume at AUB is designed to introduce students with a pre-existing interest in historical clothing to a range of historical costume practices and the fundamentals of research in the field of dress and costume history. Students are encouraged to develop an individual specialism in the field that's aligned with their own artistic and professional aspirations, allowing them to demonstrate an advanced level of research and creative output within that specialism. This course can be studied full- or part-time from September or full-time from January.

See more of MA Historical Costume's work on Instagram and AUB Showcase.

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AUB's Costume Archive comprises a significant material resource of garments, accessories, sewing patterns and associated ephemera dating from the early modern period to the present day. The archive is integral to our teaching and research frameworks, facilitating object-based learning and practice-led inquiry.

Direct engagement with extant garments allows students and researchers to undertake close material analysis, fostering an informed understanding of historical modes of dress. This examination provides critical insight into period-specific cut, construction techniques, textile composition, surface decoration and broader aesthetic conventions. This is particularly valuable in supporting historically accurate costume reconstruction and interdisciplinary research within fashion, performance and design histories.

The collection is further distinguished by its origins, including donations from theatrical costumier Paddy Dickie, a group of high-status garments associated with the Hooton Pagnell family, and a pedagogical collection assembled by Shelagh Lovett Turner. The breadth of the archive is reflected by its diversity, ranging from vernacular dress such as a Pearly King jacket, to formal attire including a Victorian mourning bodice produced by the court dressmaker to Queen Alexandra.

Established in February 2005 (Charity Commission Number: 1109648), the Arts University Bournemouth Charitable Foundation is dedicated to expanding opportunities for students across art, design, media and performance.

The Foundation supports our community by enhancing access to high-quality educational resources and facilities, helping students to fully realise their creative potential. It also provides bursaries for international study experiences, enabling students to broaden their academic and cultural perspectives while contributing to AUB's global reputation.

Beyond the university, the Foundation plays an important role in enriching the wider community. Through the operation of a cultural venue in Bournemouth (BH1), it promotes public engagement with the arts and supports the appreciation of creative practice.

Together, these initiatives reflect the Foundation’s commitment to advancing education and championing the value of the arts, both locally and internationally.

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Jean Hunnisett (1930–2003) was a respected costume historian, designer and maker whose work has had a lasting impact on the study and practice of historical costume. Born in Leigh, Lancashire, she developed an early interest in theatre and costume, initially designing for amateur productions. After leaving school at sixteen, she worked in Manchester while continuing to pursue her passion for theatrical design. In the mid-1950s, she married bassoonist Tom Hunnisett.

Hunnisett became widely known for her authoritative books on historical costume, particularly focusing on pattern cutting and garment construction. Her work is distinguished by its combination of academic research and practical application, making it especially valuable to both students and professionals in theatre, film and historical reconstruction.

We've awarded Honorary Fellowships to staff, alumni and people who've made a significant contribution to the fields of arts, design, media and performance.

Discover our Honorary Fellows

The Jean Hunnisett Prize is a prestigious award presented at Arts University Bournemouth (AUB) during our graduation ceremonies. It's funded by the Jean Hunnisett Foundation and recognises outstanding achievement in areas such as Costume Design, Performance Design, Costume Supervision, and Costume Making. The prize particularly highlights students who demonstrate exceptional skill in the detailed craft of costume creation, reflecting both technical excellence and creative insight.

The prize serves not only as a financial award but also as a tribute to Hunnisett’s commitment to craftsmanship, historical accuracy and the importance of skilled making within the performing arts. It ensures that her influence endures by encouraging and recognising excellence in the next generation of costume professionals.

In practice, the prize reflects Hunnisett’s legacy – not just designing costumes, but grounding design in historically-informed construction skills. It's awarded for work that shows strong research, craftsmanship and the ability to translate design ideas into fully-realised performance costumes.

Jean’s connection to Arts University Bournemouth was formalised when she was made an Honorary Fellow, recognising her contribution to costume education and practice.

Following her passing in 2003, Jean's legacy continued through the establishment of the Jean Hunnisett Foundation. Through this foundation, funds were donated to support future generations of costume students, leading to the creation of the Jean Hunnisett Prize.