Inspired: The Art of Making Historical Fashion

The exhibition was staged as part of the AHRC-funded Exhibiting Fashion research project.

This new 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 will be 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 has been developed as a way of showcasing makers who are producing high quality historically inspired clothing for both themselves and others. Bankfield Museum has long been a place where those interested in historical dress and textiles have come to research and learn more. The makers selected were all invited to use the museum’s costume collection as a source of inspiration, displayed in the exhibition are some of those creations.

We invite you to take part in the exhibition. Watch the makers at work and learn about what inspires them in two specially commissioned films. Look in detail at the museums’ collection and design a garment. Dress up in a historical inspired outfit and draw a dress.

We hope that you will leave today with an understanding of how and why museum collections inspire makers and may feel inspired to begin your own journey of making.

• https://museums.calderdale.gov.uk/whats-...