Project development

A young person’s view: How the project has developed

By Ellen Molnar, Look Again project volunteer.

I originally got involved with the Look Again Project in September 2018, as part of the volunteering section of my Silver Duke of Edinburgh. I’ve always loved history and want to do it at university, and I have a general interest in fashion, so the project seemed perfect for my interests, as well as some good experience to put on my Personal Statement! After the original period required by my Duke of Edinburgh, I stayed on with the project both to do my Gold Award volunteering and because I’ve had such a good time. 

I volunteer in my free periods for a couple of hours a week and I’ve been able to see how the project has developed over the eighteen months I’ve been involved, now it is complete. It’s been great to see the developments: first picking items for the collection, then deciding on colour schemes and mannequin designs, and now seeing those things put into practice in the work room and the gallery itself.

It is fantastic to see the reopened Fashion Gallery and finally see the fruition of all the hard work of the other volunteers on the project and of course Katy and Emily. As part of the project I’ve also been able to head into the archives and see some of the incredible items in the Fashion Collection, including a pair of Queen Victoria’s very large bloomers, which was certainly something I’ll remember.

I’ve helped write posts for the project Instagram account, editing photos and finding out the necessary information for captions, and got to try on replica costumes made by Arts University Bournemouth students. It’s generally been a lot of fun, and I look forward to continuing work on the project now the Museum is open.