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Bygone Fashion Set to Inspire Ulster Students

3 February 2010

An exhibition featuring costumes and accessories from the eighteenth century to the present day opens at the University of Ulster’s Belfast campus this week.

Historic and contemporary costumes from the Ulster Museum’s fashion accessories collection including an eclectic array of eighteenth century shoes, nineteenth century corsets and hats from the 1950s and 60s will be on display.

Finely embroidered purses and shawls will also be showcased alongside one of the Ulster Museum’s most recent acquisitions, a Luella handbag. 

University of Ulster Curator, Hugh Mulholland, said: “The University of Ulster is delighted to continue its relationship with the Ulster Museum to develop exhibition opportunities at the Belfast campus.  The Museum has a wealth of material we can draw on, offering inspiration to students across a range of disciplines.  This exhibition of costume accessories whilst of particular interest to fashion and textile students will also be enjoyed by the wider student body.”

Elise Taylor, Curator of Applied Art at the Ulster Museum added: “This is a great opportunity for us to exhibit some of the most interesting pieces from our extensive costume collection to a young audience.  The exhibition illustrates the diverse use of materials, embellishments and techniques used in creating fashion through the ages. We hope that the students will be enthused by the varied range of our collection, as well as the intricacy and detail of the pieces on display.”

The exhibition, which will be displayed in the Foyer, Belfast campus, officially opens at 6pm on Thursday 4  February and runs until Friday 9 April 2010.

Admission to the opening is free but places should be reserved by calling 028 90267287 or emailing hm.mulholland@ulster.ac.uk