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The Silk Road

February 12, 2024 by Gayle Strege

During Campbell Hall building renovation, the Historic Costume & Textiles Collection partnered with Dr. Amanda Respess to present The Silk Road.

Examine the textiles that gave the Silk Road its name, and travel across the trade routes that connected the cultures of Afro-Eurasia for centuries. The Silk Road exhibit weaves together the brilliant colors and feather-light textures of silks from China, India, the Islamic world, and Europe, telling the story of silk and the history of movement across empires and time. Historic textiles, jades, and jewels from the 1400’s to the present illuminate the origins of commerce and connections in the Old World and provide design inspiration for today. Featuring luxurious gowns, religious banners, brocades, saris and the designer fashions of Oscar de la Renta and Dior.

This exhibition complements Dr. Respess’ class about the history of trade along the Silk Road and features several clothing and textile selections from the HCTC that follow the Silk Road from China through Asia to Europe and America. The exhibition is on display in the Kuhn Fine Arts Gallery in Morrill Hall on the OSU Marion campus from January 22 – March 15, 2024. Gallery hours are Monday through Friday from 8am – 5 pm, with evening hours on Thursdays in February and March 14 till 7pm. The gallery is located at 1465 Mt Vernon Avenue in Marion.

Filed Under: Carousel, Exhibitions, Features, Past Exhibitions

Flower Power: Flora in Fashion and Botany in Buttons

January 15, 2023 by Gayle Strege

A smaller version of Flower Power was revived for a short run from May 24 – June 30 at the Troy-Hayner Cultural Center in Troy, Ohio. Fewer dresses but almost as many accessories as there were at DACO and all of the framed cards from the Ann W. Rudolph Button Collection that made up the Botany in Buttons exhibition were on display.

During building renovation, the Historic Costume & Textiles Collection partnered with the Decorative Arts Center of Ohio in Lancaster to showcase two related exhibits featuring selections from the HCTC on display in the galleries of DACO from February 4 through April 23, 2023. A digital version of the exhibition was created by DACO with Matterport to give the Flower Power exhibition life beyond its three month run. Click on the link above to virtually visit and explore the galleries.

Flower Power: Flora in Fashion explores the relationship humankind has with its natural environment – specifically, how we adorn our bodies with botanical elements from head to toe. From extravagant hats to sublime shoes, fashion designers have found inspiration in colorful floral motifs and botanical elements. Nature’s plant materials not only factor in the aesthetics of fashion and apparel, however, they literally are the very fabric used to make much of our clothing. Flower Power will grow your appreciation for how the bark, leaves, grasses and seeds around us have been turned into textiles and clothing we use on a daily basis.

Botany in Buttons features selections from of Ann W. Rudolph’s button collection that depict a variety of flowers rendered in various media. These are truly works of art in miniature and are a wonderful complement to the clothing on exhibit.

 

Filed Under: Carousel, Exhibitions, Past Exhibitions

Fashion & Music

September 24, 2021 by Gayle Strege

Explore the intersections of fashion and music from Folk to Rock to HipHop. Select artifacts from the original exhibition are currently on display in the Thompson Library Special Collections Display Cases on the first floor outside the gallery through mid December 2024. The full exhibition is also archived as a digital exhibition here.

Curated by Julie Hillery, PhD and Marlise Schoeny

long sequin evening gown shading from yellow at shoulders to green at hips and blue at hem

Halston sequin gown similar to gowns worn by Motown artists, The Supremes

leather motorcycle jacket with arm patches of Union Jack flag and skull, shoulder epaulets have spike studs

Motorcycle jacket worn to punk concerts decorated with spikes on shoulders and band patches

Music and dress are a reflection of society at any given point in time. The diverse population of the United States has always, and continues to, influence both music and fashion. This exhibition displays artifacts tracing the history of American music and their influence on fashion. Beginning with the turn of the 20th century, it follows the relationship between fashion and music from its beginnings in vaudeville and with itinerant country singers to the current fashion companies run by rap superstars. From folk music to hip-hop, and related dress trends, from flapper dresses to Timberland boots, this exhibit provides examples of the interplay between music and fashion trends. Moreover, it examines how human behavior is influenced by the use of dress and how music serves as a means of communication between individuals.

Over 50 examples are on display in the Gladys Keller Snowden gallery, along with interactive links to listen to the top 10 songs of the decades of the 20th century.

Filed Under: Carousel, Current Exhibition, Exhibitions, Features, Past Exhibitions

Campus Fashion: 150 Years of College Style

May 30, 2019 by Gayle Strege

You can view a digital version of this exhibition online by visiting our Fashion2fiber website, or you can just view the gallery installation here.

The Ohio State University began celebrating its 150th anniversary this academic year and we are doing our part with an exhibition that takes a look at what people were wearing on college campuses for the past 150 years. The exhibit features what people wore to class, what they wore in the dorms (today sometimes those garments are the same but that was not true in the past), what was worn to football games or other activities, and what clothing was worn for special occasions related to college life such as formals or joining honors societies, fraternities or sororities.

Maxine and Loyal Richard while students at Ohio State University in 1932. Looks like they are going to a football game!

Formal gown worn by Ruth Weinman Herndon when a Freshman at OSU in 1925

In addition, we are featuring some student projects from design, construction, pattern-making and tailoring classes from years past. Pictures from the OSU Archives photograph collection in the exhibition highlight student life over the decades. A particular interesting series highlights the evolution of classes in Nutrition and Fashion from the early days of the Department of Domestic Science, and School of Home Economics.

Spotlights about alumni who’ve worn clothing in the exhibition include Grace Heck Faust, who graduated OSU Law School in 1930 (one of two female law graduates) and was the first woman in Ohio to be elected as a prosecuting attorney.

Dr. Ruth E. Moore is another notable OSU alumna. She received all her degrees at Ohio State and was the first African American woman to earn a PhD in a natural Science. She taught at Howard University Medical College and also chaired the Department of Bacteriology from 1947-58.

 

Gallery location and hours can be found here

Filed Under: Carousel, Exhibitions, Past Exhibitions

“The Evolution of Modern Swimwear”

December 12, 2018 by Olivia Lowe

The Unsuit, 1980s

While swimming has been around in some form or another for centuries, it has only gained true recognition as an activity relatively recently. In the early 20th century, swimming gained notoriety as a legitimate pastime, and therefore designated clothes for such an activity needed to be created. Specialized clothing worn for swimming is relatively recent in the long history of people wearing clothes. The term swimsuit was formally coined in 1915, creating its own space in the fashion industry forever.

Fabric detail of a 1920s wool knit swimming costume

Swimwear, just like any other form of fashion, parallels the changing styles and trends of the times, including colors and silhouettes. For example, swimsuits for men and women were generally similar until the 1930s and 1940s, when styles for men shifted to 2 pieces outfits and finally into the concept of the swim trunks that is seen more popularly today. These suits also reveal the technological and design advances behind swimwear. This includes the advent of bra-sized swimwear for a more specialized fit, as well as a bathing suit which attempted to eradicate tan lines.

Paisley print and ruching detail from a 1950s swim suit

This small collection of swimwear acts as an extension of the “Sports & Fashion” exhibit exploring the overlaps in sportswear and fashion over the last few centuries. For a closer look at these swimsuits, visit the Thompson Library Special Collections Display Cases. This exhibit has been extended through July 7, 2019.

Filed Under: Exhibitions, Past Exhibitions

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Welcome

The Historic Costume & Textiles Collection is a scholarly and artistic resource of apparel and textile material culture. The 11,500+ holdings encompass a range of three dimensional objects such as textiles and articles of clothing and accessories for men, women, and children, including national dress costume, from the mid-18th century to contemporary 21st century designers.

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Visitors are welcome to tour exhibitions when they are on display in gallery spaces. Gallery hours and location can be found on the visit us page or you may contact us for upcoming information on exhibitions, programs, and events.

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