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OSU Historic Costume and Textiles Collection

Exhibitions

Chinese Butterfiles Detail

Detail of embroidered butterflies and flowers from the front panel of a Chinese skirt c. 1900

India Tie Dye

Tie dye detail of Indian bandhani cloth, c. 1970

Huichol Cross-Stitch

Cross stitch detail of a man's shoulder bag from the Huichol culture, Mexico, c. 1980

Please contact us if you have questions about our exhibitions and programs.

Current Exhibitions

Global Textile Trades

Trade is one of those English words with many meanings. It can be a verb as in “to make an exchange” or “to buy and sell.” As a noun trade can indicate a skill or craft, or it can refer to an entire industry such as when the fashion industry is referred to as “the rag trade.”

Global Textile Trades explores all these aspects of trade from the craft of creating cloth from fibers and yarns to the skill of decorating that cloth through patterns of weaving, dyeing and embroidery techniques. Trade as exchange happens not only in the buying and selling of goods, but also in the exchange of cultural aesthetics and ideas. The international trade in textile products over the past several hundred years is evident in Indian influence in the textiles of Southeast Asia and Europe, and Eurpoean influence in the textiles of Asia and Africa.

Finally, trade in its most traditional aspect of buying and selling can be experienced in the Global Gallery @ OSU store in the lower gallery space. Global Gallery is a local Fair Trade retailer with locations in the Short North and Clintonville that has set up a laboratory store partnership with the Fashion and Retail Studies program. Fair trade provides under- and unemployed artisans from around the world with an opportunity to earn vital income and improve their quality of life by establishing a sustainable market for their handcrafted products.

Past Exhibitions