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Watch: Conserving the Isobel dress
This Isobel evening dress featured in our Fashion City exhibition is a very rare piece, being one of just four known to exist.
It was made in 1930 out of Nottingham Leavers Lace, which though beautiful is an intricate and difficult design, meaning it has had to have multiple repairs throughout its life.
This dress was sent out to an external conservator in order to be made stable enough for display in the exhibition. The whole process takes approximately 100 hours to complete.
Thanks to this conservation treatment, we are able to display this dress for the first time ever in Fashion City.
