The National Trust has launched a new exhibition at Killerton House near Exeter, titled ‘Thirsty for Fashion’, which showcases the circular fashion of the past to inspire current fashion choices. The exhibit, which runs until November 5, includes over 50 items from the National Trust’s largest fashion collection, highlighting clothing repair, remodel, reuse and rewear techniques from the 18th century to the present day.
Exhibition Highlights
The exhibition features historical pieces, including a Victorian woman’s dress repurposed for a child, a 19th-century wedding dress reused in the 1940s, and a wartime dressing gown made from an army blanket. These historical items are displayed alongside contemporary fashion from responsible designers like Raeburn, knitwear designer Flora Collingwood-Norris, and eco-sustainable circular designer Jose Hendo. The exhibition showcases how these designers are implementing circular fashion practices to create a sustainable and circular industry.
Speaking about the exhibition, Shelley Tobin, the National Trust costume curator at Killerton, stated that “Recycling and reusing clothing is not a new idea, but something that has been commonplace throughout history. This exhibition asks the question – can we learn lessons from these past practices and reapply forgotten skills to looking after our clothes and make them more sustainable? The items exhibited show that we only need to look to history to discover ways to ensure that the clothing we buy, make and wear is durable, ethical and avoids waste.”
Positive Sustainability Focus
The exhibition also showcases vintage films from the 1940s and ’50s that offer advice on ‘make do and mend.’ Additionally, it includes photographs of National Trust staff, volunteers, and members of the public sharing personal reflections on some of the oldest and most special items of clothing in their wardrobes. The exhibition’s main focus is on sustainability and circular fashion, urging visitors to learn from the past and consider making more sustainable fashion choices in the future.
