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Design your own fashion week at these museums and galleries

A museum case featuring four mannequins dressed in designer outfits
NAOMI: in Fashion at the V&A. Supported by BOSS.

From gorgeous garments to intriguing materials, discover the stories behind the clothes we wear at these fashion and textile museums.

Gather round, fashionistas. London Fashion Week is right around the corner and although it's invite-only, everyone's invited to these fabulous museums, where you can uncover the fascinating history of the fashion and textile industry.

Discover how textile design can provide a unique insight into the lives and histories of communities over time, and follow the story of what we wear – from the production of fabric to the garments hanging in your wardrobe.

Among these museums you'll find exceptional fashion collections, curious machinery and even a viewing gallery where you can see weavers at work. Better still, you can get discounted entry or exhibitions at several of our picks with a National Art Pass.

And don't forget, there are lots more places to explore across the UK. Browse our full listings to find more inspiring museums to visit.

Discover the best fashion and textile museums to visit with an Art Pass

01
Missoni Art Colour exhibition, 2016 at Fashion + Textile Musuem

Fashion and Textile Museum

The home of contemporary fashion and textile design, the Fashion and Textile Museum in London hosts regular exhibitions exploring some of the most exciting designers and makers around the world, and offers a journey through the fascinating history of these intertwined industries. It was founded by legendary designer Zandra Rhodes, who made garments for the likes of Princess Diana and Freddie Mercury. Don't miss the fabulous outfits that became the staple of the legendary nightclub Taboo, showcased in Outlaws: Fashion Renegades of the 80s – with 50% off tickets to Art Pass holders.

02
Textiles machinery in a white room with fluorescent lights
Whitchurch Silk Mill

Whitchurch Silk Mill

The oldest operational silk mill in England, Whitchurch Silk Mill is dedicated to celebrating and preserving the historic art of silk weaving. Exhibitions, events and interactive displays explore the 200-year history of weaving, and you can find silk gems on sale in the shop. Stopping for afternoon tea with river views is a happy bonus.

03
Two floors of display cases with mannequins wearing designer dresses, backed by a huge screen featuring Naomi Campbell
NAOMI: in Fashion at the V&A. Supported by BOSS.

V&A South Kensington

Home to the largest fashion collection in the world, the V&A is a treasure trove of everything from jewellery, costume, hats and wedding dresses to underwear and embroidery. The museum regularly hosts major fashion exhibitions, which have showcased Hollywood costume, African fashion and the menswear industry. See rare gowns, post-war couture or designer sunglasses in this fashion lover’s heaven. Dive into fashion icon Naomi Campbell's sensational career at NAOMI: In Fashion for 50% off with an Art Pass.

04
A 2D sewn portrait of a bald man's head, stitched into a pillow
Makers work in the cottages, The Framework Knitters’ Museum

Framework Knitters Museum

Knitting has enjoyed a major resurgence in recent years, with the likes of Olympian Tom Daley championing working with wool. But while it may be trendy now, knitting actually has a long history as an ancient art form, dating as far back as the ancient Egyptian era. The Framework Knitters Museum charts the incredible 400-year story of framework knitting specifically, which inspired other industries such as the Nottingham lace trade.

05
Farfield Mill, Textile exhibitions in the Howgill gallery

Farfield Mill

Tucked away in a lovely corner of Cumbria, Farfield Mill boasts working looms, craft demonstrations and exhibitions uncovering the history of the textile industry. A beautifully restored Victorian wool mill, Farfield was a working mill for over 150 years.

06
.Picture by Gareth Jones
Pauline Rushton, Head of Decorative Arts at National Museums Liverpool

Walker Art Gallery

The spectacular fashion collection at the Walker Art Gallery includes indoor and outdoor clothing, underwear, hats, shoes and accessories, as well as a stunning collection of Western European textiles shared with Lady Lever Art Gallery. You’ll also find embroidery, tapestries and home furnishings, some dating as far back as 1600.

07
Two mannequins, one dressed with the frame of a skirt, the other in a brown silk dress
Blandford Fashion Museum displays

Blandford Fashion Museum

You’ll find two floors of accessories, clothing and textiles at Blandford Fashion Museum, home to the coveted 'Cavalcade of Costume' collection. There’s a tea room and shop on site, plus exhibitions exploring stories of historic dress and textile trends between 1700 and the 1900s. Please note: the museum is closed until 17 February, when they reopen with their latest exhibition Power Dressing: 1770s-1990.

08
Blue spools of thread in the foreground, an abstract tapestry in the background
Dovecot Studios, Barbara Rae and Dovecot Weavers, Peel Sound Ice, 2019, © Dovecot Studios

Dovecot Studios

See contemporary weavers at work from the viewing balcony at Dovecot Studios; this unique space combines a working tapestry studio with a thriving art gallery. As well as collaborating with artists to produce everything from handwoven tapestries to gun-tufted rugs, the gallery hosts a range of fascinating exhibitions exploring clothing, embroidery, design and more. Currently on is Ptolemy Mann: Woven Colour, featuring magnificent handwoven rugs and thread paintings.

09
Threads knotted to a length of wood
National Wool Museum, Tools of the Industry, © National Wool Museum

National Wool Museum

Housed inside the former Cambrian Mills, Wales’ National Wool Museum reveals how Dre-fach Felindre in the Teifi Valley was once the centre of a thriving woollen industry. Peruse everything from locally made socks, stocking and shawls to cosy blankets and bedcovers, plus try your hand at ways of working with wool, including spinning and sewing.

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The exterior of the Irish Linen Museum, set agains an atmospheric sky
Irish Linen Centre and Lisburn Museum, exterior. Art Map 2018 USED.

Irish Linen Centre and Lisburn Museum

Dive into the fascinating history of the Irish linen industry here – with demonstrations on hand-spinning and handloom weaving, plus lovely examples of historic linen costume and furnishings.

IndividualTiana Clarke Please note this is an example card and not a reflection of the final product

The more you see, the more we do.

The National Art Pass lets you enjoy free entry to hundreds of museums, galleries and historic places across the UK, while raising money to support them.