Mairi MacKenzie

Mairi MacKenzie is a Research Fellow in the School of Design - Fashion and Textiles at The Glasgow School of Art. Her work explores intersections between fashion, cultural history, biographical narratives, and interdisciplinary art practices, with a distinctive focus on scent, subcultural aesthetics, and symbolic motifs like the rose.

• Key research areas: Fashion Studies, Textile Design, Cultural History, and Biographical Research

Her recent publications and exhibitions, such as The Scent of Roses: A Cultural History of Rose Perfumes (2024) and Dressing Above Your Station (2023), highlight her expertise in analyzing fashion's role in art, identity, and social subcultures. Collaborative projects like Visualising the Rite (2013) underscore her commitment to cross-disciplinary methodologies.

The recurring themes in her work—scent symbolism, migration narratives, and the fusion of music/sport with dress—reflect a broader interest in how material culture constructs personal and collective identity. Notable case studies include the artist Steven Campbell and the impact of David Bowie on 1970s Liverpool football subcultures.