Mrs Caroline Devonport
Faculty of Social Science, Humanities and the Arts for People and the Economy (VA)
Current positions
Academic Fellow in Costume Design
Biography
Caroline Devonport is a Teaching Fellow on the BA Costume Design programme at the University of Salford, where she combines teaching, research, and collection management to enhance student learning and engagement. She is a Fellow of the Higher Education Academy (FHEA) and holds a Postgraduate Certificate in Academic Practice (PGCAP). Caroline recently completed a Master of Arts by Research (MA Res) and is currently undertaking a part-time PhD at the University of Hull, exploring the development of women's uniforms and specialist clothing within the Royal Navy and wider maritime sectors.
Alongside her teaching responsibilities, Caroline manages and develops the University of Salford Costume and Fashion Collection. This role includes cataloguing, accessioning, collections care, facilitating object-based learning, and supporting student and staff research. She is also leading work to develop the collection's digital presence through garment photography, 3D scanning, and digital heritage initiatives, enabling wider access to the archive and supporting innovative approaches to teaching and research.
Caroline's research interests span dress and textile history, maritime history, military and naval uniforms, heritage interpretation, material culture, and digital heritage. Her work explores the relationship between clothing, identity, representation, and lived experience, with a particular focus on women in maritime and military contexts. She has presented her research at national conferences and is actively involved in interdisciplinary projects that connect costume, history, heritage, and community engagement.
Prior to joining higher education, Caroline taught in Further Education and adult education settings and worked with adults with learning disabilities, supporting learning and personal development. She also has extensive experience training and mentoring young people and adults through volunteer youth organisations, delivering programmes including BTEC Public Services and the Duke of Edinburgh's Award. These experiences continue to inform her commitment to inclusive, accessible, and student-centred learning.
While studying at the University of Huddersfield, Caroline was actively involved in student representation and advocacy, leading the Class and Social Mobility Network within Huddersfield Students’ Union. This work strengthened her interest in widening participation, social mobility, and creating opportunities for learners from diverse backgrounds. She remains passionate about fostering inclusive learning environments and supporting students to develop confidence, creativity, and professional skills.
Areas of Research
My research interests centre primarily on historical uniforms and clothing, with a particular focus on Royal Navy uniforms, women's uniforms, and the evolving design of children's wear. I am especially interested in how uniform dress codes reflected and reinforced gender roles across different historical periods, including the eighteenth century. My work also explores more specialised areas such as submarine patrol flags and the material culture of historical sex work, examining how clothing functioned as both a marker of identity and a tool of regulation. By tracing these threads, I aim to uncover how dress and uniform intersect with broader social, cultural, and gendered narratives.
BA Costume Design
Qualifications
-
History
2026 -
Higher Education
2025 - 2026 -
Fashion and Textiles
2022 - 2026 -
Costume with Textiles
2018 - 2022