 New Zealand Fashion Museum Brings Stories Out Of the Closet
(New Zealand) - May 2010
The recently launched New Zealand Fashion Museum is the brainchild of former fashion designer Doris de Pont, who has traded in trend-setting to record fashion’s contribution to New Zealand and provide narratives on the ways that we express our unique cultural identity through what we wear, and how we wear it.
“If you look at the photos of our past, you’ll see some amazingly dressed men and women. And, I believe that our unique fashion story should be revealed and preserved,” says de Pont.
Unlike a traditional museum, with its bricks-and-mortar, the New Zealand Fashion Museum will host pop-up exhibitions throughout the country and find its permanent residence online - www.fashionmuseum.org.nz - where all things pertaining to our fashion history will be recorded for posterity. And, rather than holding its own collections, the Charitable Trust will draw from both public and private fashion collections.
“In assembling items for the first show, some incredible clothes and stories have come out of the closets of many New Zealanders. It’s heartening to hear the great memories associated with many of the outfits that will be displayed. Because, there’s a real emotional attachment to beautifully tailored clothes that we wore when life-changing events occurred,” says de Pont.
With no fixed abode, this mobile fashion museum may well be the first of its kind in the world. And, given its objectives of being responsive, relevant and accessible to all New Zealanders, exhibitions will be free to the public. The first showing - Looking Terrific: The Story of El Jay - will open at Auckland’s Gus Fisher Gallery from June 4 to July 17, before travelling to Kirkcaldie & Stains in Wellington from September 6 to October 4.
“It is very much about sharing fashion experiences and anyone can be part of it. People can visit the website for details on how they can get involved,” says de Pont.
The New Zealand Fashion Museum will be funded by public patronage. In addition to corporate benefaction, the Charitable Trust is also seeking up to 200 Foundation Fans. For a one-off donation of NZ$500.00, Foundation Fans will be listed on the Fashion Museum website and receive invitations to all events.
For more information visit: www.fashionmuseum.org.nz
Image: Doris de Pont
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