M&S Archive
Featuring unique artefacts, historic garments, films and photographs from the archive collection, the M&S Archive tracks the journey of M&S from market stall to Penny Bazaar to international retailer. M&S is woven into the fabric of the UK – from the clothes we wear to the food we eat. Which of your M&S favourites will you discover?
Objects in the archive are perfect for starting conversations and inspiring creativity.
We offer a free programme of community outreach including reminiscence outreach visits across Leeds and digital resources and loan memory boxes for those further afield. We’ve run artist-led projects with older people, using the collection to inspire creativity and develop new skills or rediscover old ones – as well as having fun and meeting new people.
“It was lovely seeing the objects at the beginning of the session. It gave us
all ideas and inspirations for patterns we could use, and it got everyone
talking about what they used to wear. It’s definitely given me, as an
Activities Coordinator, the confidence to try more arty projects with the
residents.”
We are part of Arts Together because … we want to share the objects and stories
in our collection in a way that benefits our community.
M&S Archive
Michael Marks Building
Off Clarendon Road
Leeds
LS2 9LP
People you may meet
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Katie Cameron
I’ve worked at the archive for ten years – the variety within the collection, from purple pants to pizza packaging, means there’s never a dull day! I really enjoy being able to share the collection with as many people as possible - I look after our Community programmes including outreach and community events.
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Caroline Bunce
My role as Schools & Families Officer means that I get to share the collection in lots of ways. From school workshops about Melt in the Middle chocolate puddings, to college groups applying their Business Studies learning, to 1940s swing dancing with families... every day is different. I've worked here for 13 years and it's always a pleasure to welcome people to the Archive.
