SYMPOSIUM: THE STUDY COLLECTION - HISTORIES, VALUES AND PRACTICES 

On 20 October 2026, the ESMOD Paris Research Laboratory is hosting a day of discussion and reflection on issues surrounding the establishment, transmission, promotion and use of study collections.

Co-organised by Nigel Guérin-Garnett and Marlène Van de Casteele, this international symposium reflects the Lab’s research strategy grounded in both theory and practice.

THE STUDY COLLECTION: BETWEEN RESEARCH, TEACHING AND HERITAGE

Originally designed as a pedagogical and research tool for costume makers, collectors, historians, and fashion enthusiasts, 

study collections encourage us to look beyond the historical or aesthetic value of objects and focus on their materiality and uses.

Beyond enriching the creative process and facilitating the study of garment-making techniques and construction methods, these objects embody the savoir-faire of the past and support new understandings of the pieces themselves.

RECONSIDERING USES AND PRACTICES OF THE STUDY COLLECTION

At a time when issues of transmission, participation, digitalisation, sustainability, and the decolonisation of knowledge are encouraging museums and educational institutions to rethink their practices, the study collection emerges as an especially fertile space for experimentation.

Through this multidimensional approach, this symposium explores how the study collection – whether housed within a museum, university or fashion school – blurs the lines between heritage object, educational resource, and research topic.

ASSEMBLING APPROACHES AND EXPERIENCES

This event brings together museum curators, academics, researchers and professionals to discuss these issues. We are delighted to welcome five institutions and a start-up, which are: 

• MoMU Fashion Museum Antwerp (BE)
• The New School Parsons Paris (FR)
• d_archive (AUS/FR/IT)
• University of Westminster, The Westminster Menswear Archive (UK)
• Toronto Metropolitan University (CAN)
• ESMOD International (FR)

KEY INFORMATION

Date: 20 October 2026

Time: 9:00-17:00

Location: ESMOD Paris, 12 rue Catherine de la Rochefoucauld, 75009 Paris

This event will be delivered in English

Programme: See bellow

Online link: https://teams.microsoft.com/meet/395028182953305?p=8l7ZRQacDrsXab0vwh