Textile Museum of Canada: Free and Unlimited Inspiration Online

Explore fashion history from around the world through the Textile Museum of Canada’s digital collection

Located in a modest neighborhood in Toronto, the Textile Museum of Canada was founded as a museum of carpets in 1975. Half a century later, it is one of the biggest textile museums in the world. Having digitized its entire collection, today it is a global reference, housing more than 15 thousand pieces that have been used throughout history by people from different places around the world. Its collection helps us better understand and appreciate the history of clothing and the customs and cultures of past and present civilizations.

The museum’s collection includes every type of garment and item of fabric imaginable: uniforms used in ceremonies and rituals, carpets, blankets, bedding, hats, bags, and shoes. It’s an anthology that inspires and educates, not just when it comes to fashion, but any creative or scientific field, due to each piece’s historic significance.

Millenniums of history told through textiles

The Textile Museum of Canada’s collection collates a great variety of clothing, from luxurious wedding outfits from Japan to colorful blouses from Guatemala, as well as all sorts of crowns and hats used in rituals and festivals across the globe.

Learning about how our ancestors dressed for different occasions and activities, as well as how they made their garments, gives us a unique insight into how they lived. Not only a rich educational source, this textile collection also inspires us with its shapes and colors, and serves as a reference for creative and artistic expression across a diverse mix of disciplines.

A textile museum that’s open 24/7

Tens of thousands of pieces–which have been converted into a digital archive since 2004–make up this immense library that flings this institution’s doors wide open.

While it’s impossible to browse the entire collection in one sitting, it’s enough to work through it bit by bit, allowing yourself to be guided by the suggested galleries or using the search option to find specific categories and fine-tune results. The good news is that anyone can access the collection any time of day without having to travel to Toronto. From the comfort of your own home, you can explore each of the garments and items in detail by studying high-resolution images and reading detailed information about their origin and uses.

To access this database, all you need to do is enter the Textile Museum of Canada’s digital collection and begin your quest. You can use the search filters to fine-tune your results or browse the different categories available.

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