Selected Publications

Dr. Leanne Tonkin is a Senior Lecturer in Contextual Studies: Fashion Design and Communication and currently investigates contemporary fashion conservation and exhibition practices, Liverpool John Moores University. After completing her PhD (2017-2022), Nottingham Trent University, she remained as a Post-doctorate Researcher and Lecturer in Sustainable Fashion and Textile Design and Conservation Practice until 2024. She has 30 years’ experience in working with fashion and textiles. Firstly, as a commercial fashion designer (1996-2006) and after pursuing MAs in History of Textiles and Dress (2007) and Textile Conservation (2009) went onto working for museums in the UK and USA, including the Costume Institute (2015-17). Leanne was Programme Chair (2019) for the Institute of Conservation’s triannual conference addressing the lack of social diversity in conservation. She is an active partner to ‘InBloom’ (2025-2026) funded by the Portuguese Foundation of Science and Technology, investigating thermoplastic coatings in fashion collections. Leanne is currently Trustee of The Textile Society, UK.