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INSPIRED: The Art of Making Historical Fashion

Start Date 27 January 2024
End Date 21 December 2024
Venue Bankfield Museum
Location Halifax, UK
Curator Elinor camille-wood
A trio of female mannequins wearing historical full length gowns, in hues of teal blue, light blue with a white fur trim and red with ruffles.
Eleven male mannequins wearing a mixture of tailored suits and historical army uniform. In hues of navy, blue, black, red and gold.
Eight female mannequins wearing a mixture of day and evening dresses. All in hues of navy, blue, green, red, pink and brown.
A yellow historical dress, full length complete with flared sleeves.

This exhibition showcases fashion makers from across the country who design and make clothing based on historical dress. It explores the process of how you go from a museum garment or fashion plate to producing an item of historically inspired dress that is ready to wear.

Alongside these pieces are costumes and textiles from Bankfield Museum’s world class collection and films where you can see the makers at work and learn more about what inspires them.

The exhibition is part of Calderdale’s Year of Culture 2024 celebrations and an Arts and Humanities Research Council (AHRC) funded project with the London College of Fashion called ‘Exhibiting Fashion: exhibition-making and curation as a catalyst for advancing innovative museum practices.’

Images courtesy of Kat Williams.