The Life Cycle of Clothing

The Life Cycle of Clothing
Tuesday, September 23rd at 6:00 p.m.

Step back in time and discover how much time and care Americans in the 19th century devoted to making and maintaining their wardrobes. In this engaging presentation, you’ll explore the full life cycle of clothing in the 1800s—how garments were made, mended, remade, washed, and eventually recycled. You’ll also get a close look at fascinating examples of historic garments and artifacts from the Illinois State Museum’s collections.

After the presentation, you’ll have the opportunity to: reflect on your own experiences with sewing, mending, washing, or recycling clothing—and how they compare to practices of the past; share family memories of how earlier generations cared for clothing; and consider today’s attitudes toward “fast fashion” and the growing interest in repairing rather than discarding. This program is made possible by Illinois Humanities, with support from the National Endowment for the Humanities: Democracy Demands Wisdom, the Illinois General Assembly through the Illinois Arts Council Agency, and contributions from individuals, foundations, and corporations.