NOTE: Continued Secrecy*The research community involved in this effort has agreed that it is critical to avoid exposing suspected present-day guild members. In the event that our work leads to the identification of living MGRT members we will endeavor not to directly expose them. This research community recognizes that the current political climate could be potentially dangerous for present-day members (should they be found to exist) due the guild’s founding anti-industrialization posture which is no less controversial today than it was when the guild was first formed. We recognize that, should present-day membership be uncovered, it is likely that these tailors will be active in rural societies (including Muslim) that are already under suspicion and threat by mainstream western political interests.
Use of Aliases
In order to avoid the exposure described above our research community will exercise reasonable precaution in divulging its findings including the use of aliases and the classification of certain information regarding both our membership (the group working on this research) and members of the original militant guild (MGRT) These precautions will be exercised based on our own discretion and may relate to suspected guild members both living and deceased.
Research Community
The researchers involved in this project come from a wide array of backgrounds. Fashion professors, cultural historians, political scientists, menswear industry professionals, sociologists, clothing developers, etc.
Dr. Thomas Skeene: Historian Glasgow University with a specialty in textile history and the socio-economic impact of industrialization on rural textile trades.
Dr. S. Kumar: National Institute of Fashion Design Sector 27, Camac Street, Calcutta. Specialist in research of pre-industrial textile trade in cultures of the sub-continent
David Rand: Lawyer and tailor's trade-union advocate. Social historian of the history of menswear before and after the rise of Savile Row in the United Kingdom and the United States
Lawrence J. Kabanets: Social Studies Lecturer in the Free International University. Specialist in the migration and morphing of Taylorist management techniques in the third world.
Ellen Savitz, PHD: Boston University Lecturer. Specialist in the history of the garment-trade in New York, the rise of Jewish Tailor and the cultural impact of Jewish immigrants on the modern clothing industry.
Sam Young Li: Textile Engineer and Lecturer Central St. Martins fashion program. Research and development in to supermodern garment construction and nanotechnological fiber manipulation.
Ramesh Singh, PHD: Professor of Political Science at Oxford University. Author, The Homespun Paradigm - The Warp and Weave of Revolution. Advisor to the Wool Council of India.
Dr. Anthony Davis Jackson: Professor of Costume and Folklore at University of Grahamstown, South Africa. Specialist in the symbolism of rural costume and the semiotics of garment decoration.
Runar Magnusson: Lecturer The University of Iceland (Háskóli Íslands) on primitive garment function and construction in Northern Cultures.
