Where Fashion meets consent: the Museumification of the Fashion Heritage

Abstract

The Museumification of the fashion heritage is a remarkable and evolving aspect of the cultural landscape, wherein fashion exhibitions have emerged as essential vehicles for preserving, celebrating, and interpreting the rich heritage of sartorial expressions. Fashion, often dismissed as frivolous, has transcended its conventional boundaries to become an art form that embodies historical narratives and social identities. As museums and cultural institutions increasingly recognize the value of fashion as a significant facet of human history, the establishment of fashion exhibitions has become instrumental in engaging audiences, brand storytelling, fostering cultural dialogue, and perpetuating the legacy of fashion as an enduring form of cultural heritage. This thesis explores the dynamic interplay among different kinds of museums, namely art museums, corporate museums and fashion museums, and fashion. The aim is to explain the motivations behind the engagement of fashion and to demonstrate the benefits that both, museums and fashion, obtain from this cooperation.