About

Lilja is a costume designer, maker, and researcher specialising in 18th and 19th century dressmaking with a passion for Viking and Iron Age clothing. Originally from Norway, Lilja moved to Scotland to study Costume Design and Construction at Queen Margaret University where she graduated with First Class Honours. She also holds a handmade kiltmaker’s qualification from Edinburgh Kiltmakers Academy.

Through her degree, professionally, and through personal projects Lilja has experienced researching, designing, and supervising positions in a wide array of projects.

This spring she worked in the Men’s tailoring department of Outlander Season 8. This Autumn/Winter she is recreating a horsehair hat based on a 3000 year old item in the National Museum of Scotland Collection.

Lilja enjoys creating historical costumes, previous works include: a Viking Costume based on the findings at a Birka Grave; a 1790s gown for Miss Dalrymple of Newhailes House; a 1760s gown for Elizabeth Dawson of Gladstone’s Land’s draper’s shop; and a 1900s East Lothian bondager’s costume.

Lilja has been involved in historical costume since the age of 15 when she became involved with the Living History and Re-enactment scene in Tromsø both as an attendee and as a worker.

Currently Lilja is working professionally as a kiltmaker, and just completed a workshop in October with Outspoken Arts teaching attendees how to make camisoles in Edwardian style.