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Hedda Maartens
Hedda Maartens — MA in fashion design, then eleven years in the industry designing for people who had no say in what they wore. Now writes about prescribed dress: how a garment was made to work, and what it was made to make a person into.

The Coat that Was Borrowed

The white coat is the most borrowed garment in this archive — doctors took it from chemists, and everyone else took it from doctors. It is also the only professional uniform here that was never re-cut for women.
Two chemists in a 1940s laboratory, a bacteriologist around 1950, and a geneticist in 2012 — all in white coats

The Miner's Parade Coat

Miners worked in almost nothing. Above ground the same trade built one of the most elaborate ceremonial uniforms in Europe — a black tunic, white breeches, a plumed shako, and a leather apron worn back to front.
A miner's ceremonial coat on a museum figure, a parade in black tunics and white breeches, and shakos in a display case

First Names Only

The name badge is a small object with a large asymmetry in it: the wearer’s first name is legible to a stranger who gives nothing back.
A modern employee name badge, a waitress uniform, and a 1965 conference badge

Collection: Emergency and Rescue

Every type of emergency and rescue in one place — 4 chapters, Fire and rescue, Ambulance and paramedic, Search and rescue and the rest, with the plates and an inventory to download.
Plates from the Nametape archive of emergency and rescue

A Color that Means Danger

The narrow band of yellow-green that safety clothing settled on, and the oranges and reds that were tried first. The one colour in dress chosen by measurement rather than taste.
A police officer, a naval rescue team and a road crew, all in high-visibility clothing

Collection: Health and Care

Every type of health and care in one place — 5 chapters, Clinical medicine, Nursing, Allied health and the rest, with the plates and an inventory to download.
Plates from the Nametape archive of health and care

Cabin Crew, 1965–1972

The years when airlines hired fashion designers and the uniform stopped being a uniform. Also the years it became the most openly commercial garment in this entire subject.
Three airline cabin crew uniforms of 1959, 1970 and 1975

Collection: Science and Controlled Environments

Every type of science and controlled environments in one place — 4 chapters, Laboratory and research, Cleanroom and semiconductor, Biocontainment and hazmat and the rest, with the plates and an inventory to download.
Plates from the Nametape archive of science and controlled environments

Collection: Transport

Every type of transport in one place — 7 chapters, Aviation flight crew, Aviation cabin crew, Aviation ground handling and the rest, with the plates and an inventory to download.
Plates from the Nametape archive of transport

The Habit, in Eleven Pieces

Laid out complete and numbered: eleven garments, each with a name, a rule governing when it is worn, and in several cases a meaning attached to the act of putting it on.
A comparative plate of religious habits, a drawing of a woman in a nun's habit, and a painted portrait of a nun