R. L. Shep

Robert Lee "Robb" Shep (born 27 February 1933) is an American writer, publisher and textile researcher. He is commonly known by his nom de plume, R. L. Shep. Shep is known primarily for his books on textile arts — costume and period etiquette — which are either reprints of 19th century monographies or compilations of primary sources.

Robert Shep was born in Los Angeles, California to Ruth and Milton Shep; his four grandparents were Jews who emigrated to the United States from czarist Russia.

In 1950, Shep graduated from Army and Navy Academy. He received a Bachelor of Arts in Dramatic Art from the University of California, Berkeley in 1955. Shep continued his education, first at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art, London (1955–56), then at the American Institute of Foreign Trade in Glendale, Arizona.

In 1965, Shep began to sell imported and out-of-print books on costume and textiles. In 1981, he took the helm of The Textile Booklist.

Shep first traveled to Nepal in 1978. Later, between 1983 and 2004, Shep made several trips to Bhutan and Northeastern India; collecting and studying Bhutanese and Northeastern Indian Naga textiles, particularly from the Maram tribe, exploring design themes that remain consistent, persisting in the work even as traditions change over time.

On his return to the United States, Shep devoted two issues of The Textile Booklist to Bhutan (Winter 1984 and Spring 1984) which included illustrated articles.

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