Welcome to the Fashion Research Collection’s Online Database
Working Towards an Inclusive, Decolonized and Sustainable Collection
The FRC encompasses several thousand objects related to fashion, including garments and accessories as well as photographs and ephemera. Not all objects have been catalogued yet. The oldest object (FRC2014.07.488) is a sprigged muslin dress that dates to around 1815. The FRC also includes a range of garments by contemporary designers including Balenciaga, Dior, Issey Miyake, Pucci, Wayne Clark and others.
Featured Objects
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| Navy Blue Silk Qipao Dress | Linda Lundstrom La Parka Ensemble | Blue Velvet Afgan Robe with Gold Braid |
Searching the Collection
Not sure where to start? The Random Images button is a great way to just browse the collection. Each Random Images page displays an assortment of images from the records online. If something piques your interest, click the thumbnail to view the catalogue record.
Looking for a specific designer or objects from a specific decade? The Keyword Search button allows you to perform a general search across multiple fields for any catalog records online. For example, you can search for a designer name such as Christian Dior, a type of garment such as cocktail dress, or a date range such as the 1920s
Need Help?
If you are having trouble finding something, please let us know. Parts of the collection are not online yet, but we may have what you are looking for.
How to Make a Research Appointment
The Fashion Research Collection is located in the School of Fashion at Toronto Metropolitan University in downtown Toronto. While this facility is not open to drop in visits, we happily invite undergraduate and graduate students, faculty, visiting scholars, and community members to request a research appointment.
Please provide the object # such as 2017.07.001 and a brief description of the items you wish to see. You may request up to 5 items for an appointment. Appointments are limited and though not all requests can be accommodated, we do our best to assist with all inquiries.
Other Considerations:
- Please bring paper, pencil (no pens allowed), and a camera and/or sketchbook. Laptops are also allowed.
- No food or drink is allowed in the facility.
- Photos are permitted and encouraged but no flash photos are allowed. Photos may be taken for research and assignment purposes only. Photos for publication should be cleared with the Collection Coordinator.