Fashioning Wonder: A Cabinet of Curiosities

Fashioning Wonder: A Cabinet of Curiosities is an inventive exhibition that provides the first in-depth exploration of the fascinating connections between cabinets of curiosities and fashion. Also known as wunderkammern in German, cabinets of curiosities can be traced back to the early 16th century. They were precursors to the modern museum, and many included examples of clothing. The exhibition features nearly 200 garments and accessories, almost exclusively selected from MFIT's permanent collection, which are inspired by the breadth of objects collected within the cabinets. The objects on view, many of which are shown for the first time, are meant to pique curiosity through their rarity, beauty, or originality.

Fashioning Wonder: A Cabinet of Curiosities is curated by Dr. Colleen Hill, senior curator of costume, MFIT.