Did you know that the FIDM Museum has a Study Collection?

In addition to our Permanent Collection, we have a Study Collection which is available for use by students and faculty of the Fashion Institute of Design & Merchandising. Students and faculty are invited to (gently!) examine these garments as a way to better understand both construction and design. Our Study Collection Manager regularly visits classrooms and works closely with instructors to integrate these items into the curriculum.

Garments in the Study Collection are chosen because of their design merit or importance to fashion history, but they generally have a slight flaw which keeps them out of the Permanent Collection. For example, a rip, faded colors or a slight flaw in construction would send an otherwise amazing garment to a home in the Study Collection. While we strive to ensure that our Permanent Collection (which is used primarily for exhibition) will last as long as humanly possible, we expect that objects in the Study Collection will have a shorter lifespan due to their use as educational tools.

When you visit FIDM, expect to be greeted by a mannequin dressed in an ensemble pulled directly from our Study Collection! She’ll be waiting for you when you exit the elevator into our main lobby. Make sure you also check the entrance to our Museum Store, where we regularly feature a grouping of mannequins dressed in garments from our Study Collection. We rotate dressed mannequins frequently, so be sure to visit us often!