Colleagues from Bath Spa University visited the University of Namibia as part of the Erasmus+ programme and GALA. Fashion and cultural heritage was one area being explored by Joshua Williams, Senior Lecturer. Representing Bath Business School and the Research Centre for Environmental Humanities he met with colleagues and built relationships with researchers in the capital Windhoek and the Museum of Namibian Fashion in Otjiwarongo.

The museum focuses on the preservation of endangered cultural heritage through collaborative conservation, provenance research and creative knowledge production. Joshua says, ‘Travelling across the Namib desert with RCEH colleagues to witness the living heritage of clothing and textiles was fascinating but not without complexity. It was humbling to be shown sites by Professor Sian Sullivan where living heritage has been lost.’ Colleagues from the University of Namibia are visiting Bath Spa in the coming months.

Image: Joshua with colleagues at UNAM, Maria and Napandulwe