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The Library welcomes recommendations from staff and students, provided they are current editions and support the learning, teaching and research interests of the University. Make your request through the Collection Recommendation Service.
The library offers over 200,000 print and electronic books. Print books are arranged by shelf number, which are found using LibrarySearch and on the book binding, the most relevant numbers are -
| Subject | Shelf Number |
| Accessories | 391.4 |
| The Body in Culture | 306.4 |
| Clothing Manufacture | 687 |
| Costume History | 391.009 |
| Culture & Identity | 306 |
| Fashion (General) | 391 |
| Fashion Design | 746.92 |
| Fashion Designers, by Name | 746.92092 |
| Fashion Forecasting | 746.92068 |
| Fashion Illustration | 687.02 |
| Fashion Photography | 778.99391 |
| Fashion Theory | 391.001 |
| Gender | 305.3 |
| Marketing, Branding and Business | 658.8 |
| Menswear | 391.1 |
| Pattern-Cutting and Clothing Construction | 646.4 |
| Race | 305.8 |
| Sexuality | 306.7 |
| Shoes | 391.413 |
| Sportswear | 391.8 |
| Subcultures | 306.1 |
| Sustainable Fashion | 746.92028 |
| Textile Design | 746 |
| Textile Printing and Dyeing | 746.6 |
Journals provide up to date research in your area of study, they may be available in print or electronic format and can be found using LibrarySearch. A list of all current journals can be found using the Journals A-Z, the most relevant are -
Databases bring together specialist collections of articles, images and electronic books. A list of all current databases can be found using the Databases A-Z, the most relevant are -
Edited is a retail analytics tool used by the world’s best brands and retailers to have the right product at the right time, at the right price. Sections included are Market Analytics, Retail Reports, Visual Merchandising, Trend Dashboard, Runway and Street, Social Monitor.
LS:N Global is an online trend forecasting and consumer insight service used in industry, which tracks trends which are influencing consumer needs and brand buy-in. It includes text, image and video content.
If problems are experienced in Chrome users are advised to switch to a different browser.
Unique Style Platform is a world class forecasting service for the fashion and lifestyle industries, offering curated insights to inform the creative process and inspire innovation.
This link opens in a new windowWGSN is a world leading online research, trend analysis and news service for the fashion and style industry. See - Getting started with WGSN to learn more about how to setup and use WGSN.
This link opens in a new windowOnline fashion and beauty magazine for global business advice, articles on technology and industry reports.
Fashion Monitor is the UK's leading source of industry information for media, PR and communications professionals working in fashion and beauty.
See - Getting started with Fashion Monitor to learn more about how to setup and use Fashion Monitor.
This link opens in a new windowPressReader provides interactive, digital access to nearly 7,000 of the world’s best newspapers and magazines.
Passport provides data and insight on industries, economies and consumers worldwide, helping you to analyse market context and identify future trends.
See - Getting started with Euromonitor to learn more..
This link opens in a new windowInsights and facts across 170 industries and 150+ countries. See Getting started with Statista to learn more.
This link opens in a new window This link opens in a new windowIndexes and provides the full text of journal articles on art, design, advertising, architecture, crafts, interior design, photography, textiles, television and video.
This link opens in a new window This link opens in a new windowIntegrated text and image content on world dress and fashion throughout history.
This link opens in a new window This link opens in a new windowSearch and explore quality, peer-reviewed journal articles published under the Emerald imprint.
This link opens in a new window This link opens in a new windowA complete searchable archive of American Vogue, from the first issue, published in 1892, to the current month, reproduced in high-resolution colour page images.
This link opens in a new windowThe BFI video on-demand streaming service, showing critically acclaimed classic, cult and archive films.
To create or reactivate an account go to the Academic Subscription Page
See the FAQ for further instructions on creating an account.
This link opens in a new windowBoB is on demand TV and radio service for education which allows staff and students to record programmes from over 75 free-to-air channels; and search our archive of over 2.2 million broadcasts. See - Using BoB to learn more about how to setup and use BoB.
This link opens in a new windowKanopy is a video streaming service with a Netflix-style interface which can be accessed via the link above or using the Kanopy mobile app for Android and iOS.
Login required off campus to watch films (log in with your UCA details to create a Kanopy login).
The Asian Fashion Archive is a digital resource project highlighting Asian fashion, culture, and history.
Over 2.5 million rights-cleared and high quality images from 46 of the world's leading collections.
Costumes and accessories for men, women, and children, from the fifteenth century to the present.
CC Search is a search tool that allows openly licensed and public domain works to be discovered and used by everyone - providing access to over 3 million images.
Access to European cultural heritage material organised by themes:
Art: Inspiring art, artists and stories
Fashion: Clothing, accessories and designs
Photography: Inspiring images and the history of photography
firstVIEW is a collection of more than eight million photos and hundreds of videos of fashion runway.
Database of garments and accessories in the Kyoto Costume Institute, arranged in chronological order from the 1700s-2000s.
A curated selection of garments from the 18th-century to the present day, searchable by keyword and category, from the Fashion Institute of Technology.
This link opens in a new windowThe largest collection of dress in the world. Key items in the collection include rare 17th century gowns, 1930s eveningwear, 1960s daywear and post-war couture.
Searchable archive of fashion collections, exploring the stories behind clothes, fashion and its place in history.
Archives offer access to rare and unique insight into the work of artists and creators, and often include original letters and artwork. Details of all the collections can be found in the ArchiveSearch, the most relevant for fashion are -
Stuart Aitken Research Files
Technical fashion research notes illustrated pattern cutting and fashion and textile history covering the Architecture of Clothing 300AD to 1900AD and Architecture of Fashion from Modern to Postmodern. PDFs of research files on ResourceBank
Tessa Boffin Archive
Photographer and performance artist, this collection reflects her artistic practice developed around LGBTQ, gay and lesbian culture and producing work in response to HIV/AIDS. A selection of digitised archives are available on ResourceBank.
Materials Library
A collection of material samples reflecting innovative material design and process samples used to explore material experimentation in design and creative practice.
