Exhibition: Fashioning Wonder: A Cabinet of Curiosities — Closes

February 19–April 20, 2025
Special Exhibitions Gallery
The Museum at FIT

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.

An introductory gallery examines the history of cabinets of curiosities, explaining their significance to the Age of Exploration (15th to 17th centuries), their ties to colonialism, and the need for contemporary museums to be more inclusive and informed about the objects they acquire. It also highlights the interconnections between curiosity, creativity, and collecting. A dress by Mary Katrantzou dates to her 10th anniversary collection in 2019, in which she expressed the urge “to amass like objects of a particular kind, to record, to study and identify, to protect and cherish.” Its intricate patterning includes butterflies and seashells, both of which are regularly featured in the cabinets.

This exhibition is free and open to the public. Find out more on The Museum at FIT’s website.