Gus Casely-Hayford, director of V&A East, unpicks the hidden histories behind what we wear. Show more

Gus Casely-Hayford, director of V&A East, unpicks the hidden histories behind what we wear. Show more

This is Torn - the series that unpicks the hidden histories behind what we wear, featuring fashion items that changed the world, from the humble tote bag to the miniskirt.

This is Torn - the series that unpicks the hidden histories behind what we wear, featuring fashion items that changed the world, from the humble tote bag to the miniskirt. Show more

Gus Casely-Hayford tells the story of how the fisherman sweater became a fashion statement, and of the people working to keep the tradition alive. Show more

Gus Casely-Hayford tells the story of how calico cotton first grown in India gave rise to the global trade of a fabric that is both contentious and revolutionary. Show more

Gus Casely-Hayford explores the history of viscose rayon, a textile with the power to shake up class dynamics and transform our natural world. Show more

Gus Casely-Hayford’s story starts with an enslaved seamstress's alteration to a dress made of Indian chintz fabric and spans centuries of black struggle in fashion in America. Show more

Gus Casely-Hayford tells the story of the quest to make clothing at low prices and the past and present of sweatshops. Show more

Gus Casely-Hayford charts the history of Ray-Ban sunglasses to find out how a piece of protective equipment designed for pilots evolved to become an iconic fashion item. Show more

Gus Casely-Hayford explores the history of one of the most controversial items of clothing we wear - the miniskirt. Show more

Gus Casely-Hayford tells the story of how Air Jordans kickstarted a revolution in trainers, turning a simple sports shoe into one of the most covetable fashion items of all time. Show more

Gus Casely-Hayford unravels the origin story of wax print fabric worn by Africans and finds its history spans three continents. Show more

Gus Casely-Hayford finds that mauve dye was first synthesised by accident in the 1860s and led to an explosion in synthetic dyes that have changed us and the planet. Show more