Janet Johnstone

Janet Johnstone is a clothing consultant specialising in the interpretation and construction of ancient Egyptian clothing. 

Using experimental archaeology techniques she investigates how authentic ancient Egyptian clothing was worn and her reconstructions 

impart a real sense of how ancient Egyptian men, women and children looked and lived in the Pharaonic period.  She works at Shephard Travis Textile Conservation Studio readying historic costume, textiles and tapestries for mounting, exhibition display and storage. Janet has worked in Egypt since 2014 with the Gurob Harem Palace Project directed by Marine Yoyotte on the post excavation Textile Project material directed by Jan Picton. By recording and analysing the wide range and large quantity of linen textiles used as burial cloth at Gurob, a number of reused garments including a near complete child’s tunic has shed light on life at the harem palace. Janet has published a number of articles on ancient Egyptian clothing and experimental textile archaeology as well as co-authoring a paper with Dr Tassie on Egyptian Baladi dance. 

While studying Archaeology at Birkbeck College (Arch.Dip) 1989-1993 Janet met Geoffrey Tassie and they went on to study together at University College London (BA[Hons.] Egyptian Archaeology,1996), (MA, Archaeology, 1999). During this time, along with other friends and colleagues, ECHO was founded.

Janet lives in London and continues her experimental work constructing ancient Egyptian clothing and jewellery in her garden studio.