I have a few suggestions to focus your search for expert information.

>. . . inquiry for information about an English artist named
>Marc Foster Grant, who designed a textile printed in 1973 by Michael Yates,

1) Try inquiring at Costume Collection Division, Metropolitan Museum of
Art, Ne York City (USA)

2) Probably even better is Victoria and Albert Museum, London (UK) -- they
have amazing collection of decorative arts including textile designs.

>also in need of information about a designer named M.K. Egeli, whose 1970's
>knee-high calfskin boots found their way into a design collection.

3) The recently opened Bata Shoe Museum in Toronto (Canada) may be able to
offer advice on how to research shoe designers.

Claire Pillsbury