Locating Menswear

This Special Issue of Critical Studies in Men’s Fashion presents research from the Locating Menswear network, an interdisciplinary initiative established in 2022 funded by the Arts and Humanities Research Council, aimed at addressing the historical neglect of menswear in fashion scholarship. Over the course of eighteen months, the network brought together academics, curators, brands, retailers and community stakeholders to challenge existing narratives of British fashion and highlight the cultural, geographical and industrial forces shaping menswear. The network’s research coincided with key UK exhibitions, including Fashioning Masculinities in London, Dandy Style in Manchester and Art of the Terraces in Liverpool, while also exploring international perspectives with visits to Bologna and Carrè in Italy. A two-day forum held in 2024 in Manchester and Liverpool culminated in a diverse range of outputs, including the academic articles, photo essays, snapshots and spoken word texts in this publication, valuing both scholarly inquiry and lived experience. Future directions for the network include continued interdisciplinary collaboration and the opening of previously inaccessible private industry archives, as well as larger scale studies that promise to shape the future of menswear scholarship, expanding the conversation beyond traditional fashion capitals and offering a more inclusive and comprehensive understanding of the field.