Skip to content

Unarchived

Unarchived comprises of two extensive collections of fashion and textiles which are housed within NTU's Nottingham School of Art & Design: the Lace Archive and Fashionmap. Find out more — including ways to explore both collections — below.

A book filled with various patterns of lace showcasing the lace produced in Nottingham's Lace Market.

Lace Archive

Our Lace Archive holds approximately 75,000 items of mainly machine-made lace dating from the 18th — 21st century. The collection was bequeathed to the University by local companies and the Nottingham Lace Federation to support the teaching of lace designers. It includes single pieces of lace, manufacturers’ sample books, portfolios of photography and design, prize-winning examples from international lace competitions, as well as books on lace history and teaching aids used throughout the archive’s life.

Whilst the Lace Archive doesn't offer open access, there are opportunities across the academic year to explore the collection.  Head to our What's On listings to find out more.

A collection of clothing and pictures on a wall - on shelves and hung up.

Fashionmap

Fashionmap is a unique archive of trend-led garments and accessories, sourced from Nottingham fashion retail stores from 2000—2018. It also includes photographs and interviews, representing high street fashion from the last few decades.

Whilst this archive doesn't offer open access to the public, there are opportunities across the academic year to explore Fashionmap's collections.  Head to NTU Arts' What's On listings to find out more and book tickets.

Upcoming events

We're delighted to have both the Lace Archive and Fashionmap open as part of Bonington Gallery's next exhibition launch event on Friday 16 January 2026.

Find out more and book your free ticket now.

16

Jan

Exhibition launch: layt de kam / Bonington Vitrines #29 Through Our Eyes, In Our Words

Bonington Gallery, Bonington Building, Dryden Street, Nottingham, NG1 4GG

20

Mar

Exhibition launch: Naeem Mohaiemen: THROUGH A MIRROR DARKLY / Bonington Vitrines #30 A Semester in Nottingham, 1976

Bonington Gallery, Bonington Building, Dryden Street, Nottingham, NG1 4GG

What's on

From concerts and exhibitions to writing masterclasses, discover the latest events and activities with NTU Arts — NTU’s extracurricular and public arts programme.

Fashion and Textile Research Centre

Representing a complex field in a global context, research in this centre focuses on cultures, heritage, design, business, sustainability and advanced textiles.

Nottingham School of Art & Design

We are one of the world’s leading art and design schools and we have been influencing, inspiring and innovating for over 175 years. We are guided by our past, focused on our future, and proud to be shaping what comes next.