Bernadette Banner is an educational content creator best known for her YouTube channel which documents the exploration, reconstruction and reinterpretation of fashion history. Her study focuses primarily on English dress predating the widespread use of the electric sewing machine, with a particular focus in the years between 1890 - 1914. All reconstruction work is done by hand or with the use of period authentic machinery.
In addition to rediscovering the methods by which clothes were made in the past, the channel seeks to explore how we in the 21st century can learn from historical sewing techniques and attitudes towards dress in an effort to fight the effects of fast fashion.
After an early career in costume design for Broadway, Bernadette graduated from New York University with a degree in theatrical production. She went on to work with the the School of Historical Dress in London, shifting focus to historical dress study and reconstruction. Her YouTube channel, begun in 2018 as a side project to chronicle personal reconstruction studies, has since gathered an audience of over 1 million subscribers. Her New York Times Bestselling book, “Make, Sew and Mend: Traditional Techniques to Sustainably Maintain and Refashion Your Clothes” was published in May, 2022. Bernadette currently works as an educational content producer in London.
