Admire and Preserve

With use, clothing can be stained, worn, and torn. It goes out of fashion, and it may be altered, given away, discarded, or used as rags. Clothes are made of organic matter, so insects feed on them, temperature affects them, damp spoils the fibres and brings mildew and mould. Light discolours the dyes. Few clothes survive their owners, and not always in the best of condition.One of the museum's missions is to preserve our collection for the future, preventing damage. To do this we must maintain a stable environment. We use subdued lighting, and adequate hangers that don't stretch or distort the fabrics. The clothing must be displayed only for short periods, and repair is an ongoing process.These considerations explain the peculiarities of some of the displays which the visitor may encounter.