Costume and textiles

We undertook a project from 2006 to 2008 to document, repackage and improve the storage conditions of our costume and textile collection. The collection comprises of some 3,000 items of costume and textiles from a 17th century Spitalfields silk dress to a 1940s Gieves and Hawkes naval uniform worn during the Normandy landings. It also includes a substantial collection of lace, including, representations of the local Honiton and Branscombe trades, shoes and hats as well as costume accessories, including, ivory card cases and jet jewellery.

Costume accessories collection

Due to the fragile nature of costume and textiles, it is often difficult to display them in the museum. Why not explore our costume accessories online? Browse through a selection of accessories from bags, shoes and hats to fans and parasols.