About us

FIVE LEAF was founded in 2026 by Professor Johanna Gibson, who is also the institute’s founding director, together with founding members Gavin Sutter (deputy director), Mark Jetsaphon Niyompatama, Vasiliki Koukoulioti, Daniele D’Alvia, and Laura Edgar. The membership reflects the interdisciplinary character of the group, which comes from across Queen Mary University of London, reflecting the strengths of the university and FIVE LEAF alike.

We are home to a vibrant research community, with external members from the profession and industry, and PhD and postdoctoral researchers. We also regularly welcome visiting researchers and scholars from around the world. We welcome applications to become a visiting scholar and be part of this rich research community.

The work of FIVE LEAF is supported by an advisory group, chaired by Lord Justice Arnold, Court of Appeal, England and Wales.

Teaching and research

FIVE LEAF’s flagship LLM programme is the LLM in Fashion Law, the first of its kind in the UK and one of the most comprehensive graduate fashion law programmes in the world. The members of FIVE LEAF research, publish, and teach across fashion and luxury, film art, film law and production, photography and visual theory, theatre and performing arts, performance art, live art and ethology, architecture and cultural heritage, and cultural and legal theory.

The five leaves of FIVE LEAF are:

• Fashion and luxury;
• Film and photography;
• Theatre and performing arts;
• Live art and performance;
• Architecture and culture.

Current activities

Current projects include THRIFt (The Human Rights in Fashion), an interdisciplinary research network in human rights and fashion, with academics, researchers, creatives, economists, scientists, industry, non-governmental organisations, and brands. FIVE LEAF is also home to the Film Fashion Forum, an occasional series of creative-led events established in 2022. These public events bring creatives, filmmakers, designers, brands, and performers together with experts from academia, industry, and the civil sector, to discuss the major questions and contemporary challenges for fashion, film, and performing arts.