Tuesday 16 September, 11 - 1pm: Tour, Soteria Conservation Studio with Jessica Burgess

Unit 216, Buspace Studios, Conlan Street, London, W10 5AP

Tucked away in Soteria Conservation studio, an 18th-century Spitalfields silk gown lies under the expert eye of textile conservator Jessica Burgess. Its once-vivid brocaded florals are softened by centuries of wear, each faded thread holding stories too fragile to tell themselves. Among the scent of cleaning solutions, cotton gloves and the hush of focused work, the gentle, painstaking art of conservation comes to life - a silent, vital dialogue between past and present.

Founded in 2020 by Jessica Burgess, Soteria Conservation is a textile-focused studio offering both interventive and preventive conservation of a museum standard, with clients across the globe. Burgess and her team of conservation specialists bring with them a wealth of international experience, having worked on some of the world’s most significant and intricate textiles - from archaeological fragments to antique ballet costumes and Central Asian embroideries. 

This intimate studio visit offers a rare chance to go behind the scenes and witness conservation in action. Visitors will be welcomed with a talk introducing the guiding principles of textile conservation, followed by a live demonstration of specialist techniques and close-up access to current projects. As delicate threads are reinforced and tears meticulously stabilised, these guardians of cloth ensure that history’s most intimate surfaces - from samplers stitched by schoolgirls to the sweeping silks of court dress - continue to speak across time. 

In a world eager for the new, conservation quietly champions the old - reminding us that timeworn textiles are not just relics of the past, but vibrant carriers of culture, memory and craft. This is a rare opportunity to see how those histories are preserved, stitch by stitch, for generations to come.

Please Note: This is a free event. To reserve your place, simply add a ticket to your cart and complete the checkout process in our shop. 

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