She also works as freelance expert in Chinese textiles and dress, advising international institutions and university lecturing. With a degree in History of Dress from the Courtauld Institute of Art, London, and over 14 years as curator at the V&A, she has gained a wide understanding of both Asian and Western material culture. Helen specialises in the Stein collection, textiles collected from the Chinese Silk Road area during the early 20^th century by archaeologist Aurel Stein, today held in the V&A, British Museum and National Museum of New Delhi. She regularly speaks at international conferences and she has published widely on topics ranging from Carpets from the Silk Road to Italian leather. Helen’s current research interest is Chinese export textiles and Chinese influence on Swedish fashion.