A brief history of Italian fashion

To celebrate the completion of his PhD on Italian corporate museums, Dr Matteo Augello will present a lecture on the history of Italian fashion curation.

Since the 1950s, Italian textile and fashion companies have supported publications, conferences and exhibitions to promote scholarship and preserve fashion heritage. Over seven decades, they have increasingly undertaken a more active role and are now establishing their own institutions and associations.

After a brief history, the lecture will focus on the influence of the industry over curatorial policies, questioning whether corporate interests can co-exist with the social requirements of traditional museums. Underlying the whole presentation is one key dilemma: are corporate museums, actually, museums?

The event is free but booking is essential.

The lecture will be followed by a glass of wine.