Unlocked: Women’s Dress in Modern Iran and Afghanistan

One-day course

+44 (0)20 7942 2000
Sold out

This day explores the rich traditions of womens dress in Iran and Afghanistan from the late-19th century to the present through the V&A's collections…

V&A Academy Unlocked days invite you behind the scenes, bringing you face-to-face with the V&A's extraordinary collections.


  • Join an introductory lecture by Fuchsia Hart, V&A Curator Middle East, and hear about a diverse range of dress and costume, including from the Hazara people of Afghanistan

  • Get up close to objects from the V&A's textile collection such as fine jackets from Iran and intricately embroidered face veils from late-19th century Afghanistan with V&A Assistant Curator Chiara De Nicolais

  • Enjoy a gallery tour of the Jameel Gallery of Islamic Art led by Fuchsia Hart, V&A Curator Middle East

This Unlocked Study Day is designed to complement the course 'Arts of the Islamic World' led by Dr Helen Glaister but you do not need to be enrolled on any online course to join an 'Unlocked' event.

course photo
Portrait of V&A Academy Course Director Dr Helen Glaister

V&A Academy Course Director
Dr Helen Glaister

V&A Course Director Dr Helen Glaister, an art historian who is specialised in Chinese Ceramics and Decorative Arts and has lectured for Birkbeck College, the British Library and is Senior Teaching Fellow at SOAS will be joined by V&A Curators Fuchsia Hart and Chiara De Nicolais for this study day.

What a treat to have had the luxury of being close to the objects! And to listen to the lectures. I ended the day so inspired. Previous Unlocked Event Attendee

Course overview

To see the full programme for this study day, click 'download programme' below.

This Study Day is linked to Dr Helen Glaister's 12-week summer term art history course 'Arts of the Islamic World'. If you wish to join the online course, please book online before mid April 2023. The online course live sessions will be Mondays, 17 April - 10 July 2023 and you can watch lecture recordings on demand, available at the end of each day, until Monday 2 October 2023.

Please sign up to our dedicated V&A Academy newsletter to be first to hear about our new summer Academy courses, workshops and events.

Should you have any questions about this V&A Academy Unlocked event, please email courses@vam.ac.uk

photo

V&A Academy. A learning environment you can trust.

V&A Academy online courses let you tune in to expert lectures live, or catch up on demand; our in-person Unlocked Study Days invite you to delve deeper into course themes, explore the collection and let you design your own hybrid learning experience.

Enrol now

One-day course: Unlocked: Women’s Dress in Modern Iran and Afghanistan

27 June 2023

£60.00

Call to book +44 (0)20 7942 2000

Need help enrolling? Talk to the admissions team:

+44 (0)20 7942 2000

Open 10.00 - 13.00, Monday to Sunday (closed 24-26 December)