Wartime Comestices Archive Launched

The Visual Arts Data Service (VADS) and the London College of Fashion announced a collaboration today that will see the photographic archives of three important cosmetics companies made accessible online for the first time.The archives of Gala, Miner’s and Crystal, three prominent cosmetics companies operating during and after the Second World War, are held at London College of Fashion and have been digitised and made freely accessible through the VADS website.The archives are a valuable resource for the study of the history of cosmetics, advertising photography, fashion promotion and women in the Second World War.During the War when silk was needed for parachutes and stockings disappeared from the shops, Miner’s had particular success with its leg make-up, Miners Liquid Stockings, which many women used to paint their legs and even drew black lines down the back of their legs to simulate the seams. Gala of London was also the first company to introduce lip stick in a tube when they introduced their lipline in 1957.Katherine Baird, Manager of Archives and Special Collections at the London College of Fashion said: “The history of cosmetics is a subject area poorly served by archives to date, and this archive is a valuable addition."“The war and immediate aftermath, was an important period for the development of package design and also for the development of women's economic independence and consequently their image. The photographs in this collection provide a rich resource charting the development of designs and promotion of cosmetic products and images of women using them.”Leigh Garrett, Director of VADS, said “We are delighted to have worked with London College of Fashion to make these unique archives accessible to a wider learning community than ever before."“Through our partnerships with university and museum collections across the UK, VADS has already made a wide range of visual arts image collections available online freely for educational use. This latest project will bring another valuable collection to wider recognition and use by scholars, researchers and students as well as members of the public.”The three cosmetics archives have been digitised by the London College of Fashion and made available online through the ‘Enhancing VADS’ project, funded as part of the Enriching Digital Resources programme from JISC.

Craft Council Library

The Crafts Council Research Library will be open as usual from Wednesday 17th June. Our opening hours are Wednesday and Thursday, 10am-5pm.

Researchers from fashion designers at Stella McCartney and Reiss mix with advertising agencies working for Old Speckled Hen beer, new and established makers and A level students to use the extensive resources at the Crafts Council Research Library.

The Research Library is the only resource dedicated completely to contemporary craft. Combined with the Information Service available online, by email and by phone, the Research & Information Team can help a variety of users find what they need.

Dorothy Hogg MBE, jeweller-in-residence at the V&A in 2008/09 said “I spent time at the start of my residency in the Crafts Council Research Library. I was assisted with access to books, catalogues, recorded interviews and images of makers work in the welcome quiet one hopes to find in a library.”

Work from the Crafts Council Collection is also on display in the library, providing a creative and inspiring environment to flip through design magazines, exhibition catalogues, or search our directories for a maker.

How to visit

The Research Library is on the 1st Floor of the Crafts Council offices on Pentonville Road. The Library is accessible by a lift and stairs and our building has ramp access.

Map of the Crafts Council Research Library

Visiting the collection is free of charge. Please book your visit in advance by contacting the team.

We also welcome bookings from groups of professionals, makers and students, and can offer a tailored introduction to the resources available for contemporary craft. Groups should ideally be limited to 20 attendees.

To arrange your visit, email the team on reference@craftscouncil.org.uk or call 020 7806 2501.

For more information, visit our website http://www.craftscouncil.org.uk/

Crafts Council44a Pentonville RoadLondon N1 9BY

Phone: +44 (0)20 7278 7700Fax: +44 (0)20 7837 6891
http://www.craftscouncil.org.uk/