Both the Arts Society Samlesbury and the The Arts Society North West Area host occasional days where members can enjoy presentations on topics of interest.

Rags to Riches – A study Day with Dr. Kate Strasdin.

Wednesday, 30th August, 2023 

“From Rags to Riches” study day attracted an audience of more than 60 members and guests. Dr Kate Strasdin returned to Samlesbury following her previous popular lecture, The Dress Diary of Mrs Anne Sykes.

In the morning she gave two lectures, The Art of Royal Fashion and Textiles – a million uses. Members learned about the subtle signifiers of power and status conveyed by royal costume and she shared new discoveries including how Queen Alexandra’s clothes were designed specially to disguise her curvature of the spine.

There was a distinctly nostalgic buzz in the afternoon when members told the stories of their special objects from a 1970s Mary Quant style wedding dress to a pair of children’s clogs.

Oswaldtwistle Mills had provided a display giving a fascinating insight into the Lancashire textile industry from the cottage industry to industrialisation.

Thanks to the Harris Museum curator Scott Schiavone, there was a display of vintage dresses.