Textiles and costumes

Textiles and costumes are some of the most sensitive objects in a museum collection. They are susceptible to damage from heat, light, incorrect humidity, pests and pollutants, as well as from improper handling, storage and display. The following resources provide information on caring for textiles and costumes.

Preventive conservation guidelines for collections

• Caring for textiles and costumes

Canadian Conservation Institute (CCI) Notes

• N13/1 Textiles and the Environment (2013)
• N13/2 Flat Storage for Textiles (2008)
• N13/3 Rolled Storage for Textiles (2008)
• N13/4 Velcro Support System for Textiles (2008)
• N13/5 Hanging Storage for Costumes (2009)
• N13/6 Mounting Small, Light, Flat Textiles (2009)
• N13/7 Washing Non-coloured Textiles (2009)
• N13/8 Applying Accession Numbers to Textiles (2008)
• N13/9 Anionic Detergent (2008)
• N13/10 Stitches Used in Textile Conservation (2008)
• N13/11 Natural Fibres (2008)
• N13/12 Storage for Costume Accessories (2009)
• N13/13 Commercial Dry Cleaning of Museum Textiles (2008)
• N13/14 Testing for Colourfastness (2008)
• N13/15 Mould Growth on Textiles (2008)
• N13/16 Mechanical Surface Cleaning of Textiles (2010)
• N13/17 Conservation Framing of Embroideries and Other Flat Textiles (2010)
• N13/18 The Identification of Natural Fibres (2008)
• N18/4 A Small Backlit Suction Device for Treating Textiles (2010)

Technical Bulletins

• TB 24 Water Quality for Treatment of Paper and Textiles (2001)

Other CCI resources on this topic

• Basic care – Carpets and rugs
• Basic care – Quilts
• Fabric of an exhibition: An Interdisciplinary Approach (1997)

Related CCI resources

• Agents of deterioration
• Basic requirements of preventive conservation
• Handling heritage objects
• Light damage calculator
• TB 28 Guidelines for pH Measurement in Conservation (2007)

External links

• Creating a Microclimate for Oversized Museum Objects (PDF format) (Conserve O Gram 4/4, 1993)
• Storage Techniques for Hanging Garments: Dust Covers (PDF format) (Conserve O Gram 4/15, 2001)
• Dry Cleaning Museum Textiles (PDF format) (Conserve O Gram 16/2, 2000)
• A Simple Storage Mat for Textile Fragments (PDF format) (Conserve O Gram 16/3, 2001)
• Synthetic Fibers in Costume Collections (PDF format) (Conserve O Gram 16/4, 2002)
• Flag Rolling and Storage (PDF format) (Conserve O Gram 16/5, 2009)
• Salvage at a Glance, Part V: Textiles (PDF format) (Conserve O Gram 21/8, 2003)
• L'entretien des textiles (in French only) (Centre de conservation Québec)
• Les sinistres (in French only) (Centre de conservation Québec)
• Le soin des textiles (in French only) (Centre de conservation Québec)