Fast fashion and products intended for single use are an integral part of our consumer culture. Such objects are diametrically opposed to the idea of musealisation due to their original purpose of production. With their inclusion in the Textile Everyday Culture Collection (STAK), they have been declared worthy of collection and preservation and have been given a new purpose. Instead of disposing of them quickly, we are now prolonging their life through preventative conservation measures.

The tension between consumption and preservation is the starting point of the exhibition, which was on display in the window of the former BIS shop in the library foyer from 25 March to 1 July 2024. Not every fashion or textile collection comprises such a wide range of objects as those already gathered there in the shop window - and this is just the tip of the iceberg of the variety of objects the STAK has to offer. As the name of the collection suggests, it is about objects (in the broadest sense) of everyday textile culture, and in principle this can be a whole host of things: from bibs to disposable underwear to sausage casings, to jackets made of coated paper or tourist souvenirs. This diversity harbours a number of challenges. Objects made from such different materials also have very different storage requirements, for example: Metal does not like it too damp, leather not too dry; some materials should not be folded or tear when they are hung up. In terms of content, however, the wide range of objects offers a variety of ways to engage with the STAK - the collection has something for everyone!

This is particularly practical as the STAK is a university collection. It has not only found its home at the Institute of Material Culture, but is also actively integrated into teaching and research. This diversity enables teachers and students at the Institute to examine a wide range of topics based on the objects in the collection. For example, there are seminars on youth fashions, sustainability or textile techniques, but also on fashion magazines or the musealisation of fashion and textiles. Only one thing is certain: Boredom!

The exhibition is accompanied by a booklet with information on the objects on display, which is available here as a PDF file.

Curator: Edwin Mårtensson (FWJ STAK 2023/2024)

Laufzeit: 25.03.2024–01.07.2024

Collection in focus: Everyday Textile Culture Collection