Going behind the scenes of museum fashion displays

Join National Museums Scotland’s fashion and textile curators and conservators to learn what happens behind the scenes of a fashion display.

Clothing actively shapes, reclaims and transforms our identity and yet the standard museum mannequin erases any defining human characteristics. As a result, it can overlook the potential for the dressed body to animate our understanding of both garments and societies.

This event will take you on a tour of select objects in storage at the National Museums Collection Centre, which showcase how dress as material culture offers a window into social histories. From an Ainu robe and a Hawaiian Ahu’ula (feather cloak) to items from European catwalks, discover how clothing reinforces status, embodies power and expresses a sense of self – and how museums must approach displaying these items with respect, integrity and curiosity.

The object study sessions will be followed by an in conversation with NMS’ Principal Curator of Modern & Contemporary Design, Georgina Ripley, and an audience Q&A.

Attendee guidance:

Please wear comfortable footwear for walking the short distance between buildings and potentially standing in store for the object study sessions (lasting up to 1 hour; seating will be provided to take breaks and for access requirements).

Please be aware that some stores can be relatively cool in temperature. We recommend bringing layers of clothing as we request that you leave all outdoor jackets and bags in the lockers provided.

Please do not take any food or liquids into the store, including water.

We recommend that you bring a bottle of water with you to refill in the designated areas as we are an environmentally friendly site with drinking water provided from the tap (no water stations/plastic cups).

You will be welcome to take photographs without flash for your own use (not for publication/ use on social media without prior permission).

When viewing objects, we ask that you please do not lean on the tables or racking and do not touch or handle objects without invitation.

Please only use pencil or electronic equipment if you are planning to take notes in store.

Important points to note

This event is suitable for age 16+

Content warning: Discussion around mannequins and the body will include mention of plus-size, disabled, transgender and non-binary bodies and identities. Discussion around world cultures objects will touch upon Indigenous cultures, colonial histories and legacies and cultural appropriation.

Filming: Photography may take place at this event. Please let a member of the RSE Public Engagement team know if you do not want to be photographed.

SPEAKER

Georgina Ripley

Principal Curator, Modern & Contemporary Design, National Museums Scotland

Georgina Ripley is Head of the Modern & Contemporary Design section at National Museums Scotland, and Principal Curator for the fashion and textile collections dating from 1850–present. She is the author of Ray Petri (2026), and editor of Little Black Dress: A Radical Fashion, published in 2023 to coincide with the exhibition, Beyond the Little Black Dress. Her other exhibitions include Body Beautiful: Diversity on the Catwalk (2019-2022) and the museum’s permanent Fashion and Style gallery, which opened in 2016. Her current research focuses on progress toward diversity, equity and inclusion in fashion and the museum sector; representation of intersectional masculinities in styling and photography; and the archive of British fashion designer Jean Muir (fl. 1962-1995). Georgina holds an MA in the History of Dress from the Courtauld Institute of Art and has previously worked for organisations including the Royal Academy of Arts and National Galleries of Scotland.

About the Curious festival

The RSE’s free Curious festival of knowledge is back, from Saturday 5 − Sunday 13 September 2026!

Curious is Scotland’s annual festival of knowledge. Across its seven-year history, Curious has welcomed over 10,000 attendees into its yearly programme of talks, workshops, discussions and exhibitions – all covering different topics and subject areas. There’s no need for you to have any prior specialist knowledge before coming along, just bring your curious self! With plenty of events both in person and online, you can take part from anywhere.

You can check out the full programme of events here.

Accessibility

We aim to make events as accessible as possible. If you have any accessibility requirements or have any questions related to how we can support this event, please contact curious@theRSE.org.uk. Accessibility information for the RSE building can be found on our website.

Lift access is available to participants on site at the National Museums Collection Centre, and limited seating can be provided for the tours/object study sessions. Please be aware that for the majority of the group, the time spent in the store looking at objects will be on their feet if they are able, and they will

Description supplied by the event organiser.