This weekend, we went to TORM for the first time ever. For any American on non-historical readers, this is a very large market place set up twice per year so that those who make or sell materials for historical activities, including re-enactment of all periods, can be united with those who want to buy. We went along as buyers and took photos of some of the better clothing and related suppliers.

I apologise for the dreadful photos but it was VERY busy on Saturday. If you want better pictures, follow the links below the photos to each trader as they generally have pre-crowd photos of their stalls.

The Mulberry Dyers produce dyed wool and linen fibres, often in bundles or hanks labelled with the relevant period of history, the kind of sheep’s wool used and the dyestuff/mordant used. If you really want to know if Vikings could produce vivid green or if the Tudors were able to get a true red (both true) then have a look at the Mulberry Dyers website https://www.mulberrydyer.co.uk

The fantastic people at the School of Historical Dress are my heroes. Having discovered them soon after the first “Seventeenth Century Women’s Dress Patterns” book was published, I have followed their success closely. They study extant garments in a theme, the most recent being stays and under-pinnings, publish books and run courses in London to communicate their findings. Aimed at a broad range of people including museum conservators and theatrical costumers, I think they were surprised that so many re-enactors use their services.

I was fortunate enough to be able to attend one of their tailoring courses in 2014 and would recommend the courses if you can afford to stay in London and pay for the course as well, but maybe that is just for crazy people like me - I travelled to London on the Edinburgh sleeper train in order to be there on Saturday morning!

You can find the school here theschoolofhistoricaldress.org.uk/

This is the first time we had encountered this young man but he really impressed us. His knowledge of 18th century styles and fabrics was obvious and he had a joy in discussing his work that was really engaging. Zack is wearing a fantastic banyan (as he explained to us) and on the table are his tailor’s shears which are engraved with the company name.

Other than that I know little, but his website looks great, has a wonderful sense of fun about it and can be accessed at https://www.pinsenttailoring.co.uk/

Specialising in the 14th to 16th centuries, The Sempster produces lovely clothing from authentic patterns. I happen to know she looks for authentically produced and dyed cloth as well. The front of the costume worn by the gentleman is excellent and can be seen being prepared for storage on her Facebook site at https://www.facebook.com/TheSempster/

The beautiful linens produced by White Rabbit Lynens are far too pretty to be classed as underthings, even though they generally are. The craftswomanship involved in producing hems less than 3mm wide is incredible (I know as I have tried and failed). Although not cheap, these items are worth every penny if you want to have truly authentically sewn linen and lace accessories made with style and care. You can find The White Rabbit at https://www.facebook.com/WhiteRabbitLynens/

There were lots more fantastic traders at TORM and I am sorry if I missed you or your favourite one, there were only so many photos I could get in the crowded hall. Hopefully I may join them next time behind a stall of my own!

The next TORM will be at the Sports Connexion at Ryton On Dunsmore again on 15th/16th/17th March 2019.