Fashion Study Collection

Brief History

The Fashion Study Collection (The Collection) was founded in 1989 as the Fashion Design Study Collection by Art + Design’s Dennis Brozynski. Brozynski’s intent was simply to bring together an assortment of garments and supplementary materials to draw upon in class. This collection was reassessed in 1997 and plans were set in place to increase funding, storage, and oversight. By the time it moved to 1006 South Michigan Avenue in 2002, the collection—financially supported by the Arts, Entertainment, and Media Management Department—had grown to include donations from faculty, private collectors, and other educational and cultural institutions. Within four years, the collection not only had a formalized mission, advisory and acquisitions committees, but also a professional curatorial perspective.

In December 2008, the collection found a new home at 618 South Michigan Avenue. The recently renovated facility offers a classroom, workroom, and research center, as well as an environmentally-controlled, alarm-sealed storage space for better preservation of the collection. In fall 2011, the Collection opened its doors as a teaching resource for the newly formed Fashion Studies Department.

The Collection

The eighth floor is home to the Collection Research Center and Study Collection. The Research Center offers access to books, magazines, journals, visual media and other reference materials, dating as early as the 1860s. General subjects addressed by the collection include fashion history, global dress, construction, and textiles.

With over 6,000 objects, the Study Collection encompasses a wide variety of dress and adornment. American, European, and Japanese designers are represented with examples of custom, ready-to-wear, runway, and trunk show pieces. The historic collection encompasses women’s, men’s, and children’s wear, dating from the late 19th through the 20th century, accessories, uniforms, sports apparel, wedding dresses, leather, and furs. An ethnic collection of garments, accessories, and textiles illustrate historic, contemporary, everyday, ceremonial, and traditional fashion from around the world.

Effective April 2012