MoMu Digital Archive
Image: La Mode Pratigue, 3 June 1905, cover image (crop).
While the renovations continue at MoMu Antwerp, ahead of its reopening in 2021, the museum’s library has gone online, making it easier to do fashion research from home. Conducting research on historical costumes? Over the years, the library has invested in digitising a large part of its collection including historical magazines from 18th – 19th century. The digital archive is now available online. Library staff have also uploaded a batch of detailed images and sketches of historical accessories, clothing, undergarments and lace patterns onto Wikimedia Commons. This content is not subject to copyright restrictions and can be used by anyone, anytime, for any purpose for free. The library also now has a video channel on Vimeo, where you can browse through MoMu’s video material. As an introduction to what’s available, librarians have made a playlist of a few of their favourite videos.
Image: La Mode Pratigue, 11 February 1905 cover image (crop).
Since opening, the museum has committed to holding temporary exhibitions, working closely with designers to position fashion in an extensive scenography that tells the story of their pieces. MoMu’s own extensive collection, comprising about 30,000 objects, has been less frequently exhibited because of the lack of physical space within the museum. MoMu’s renovation will create roughly 800m² of additional public exhibition space to house a permanent exhibition for the permanent collection. This allows visitors to visit MoMu while thematic exhibitions are being changed. Also, an auditorium with retractable stage will be added enabling MoMu to put on more readings, conferences and Q&A sessions.
Olivier Theyskens - She walks in beauty from MoMu Fashion Museum Antwerp
MoMu library will also receive a make-over and will be expanding its infrastructure to house the museum’s study collection. Besides reading books and magazines, visitors can study and handle the objects. Behind the scenes, the depots and restoration studios will be complete renewed, which allows MoMu to store collections and archives for future generations in a high-quality infrastructure under the best possible conditions.
MoMu’s library can be visited by appointment, the museum will reopen in September 2021. For more information visit www.momu.be
MoMu's digital archive is available at www.europeana.eu