The George Washington University Museum and The Textile Museum

Located in the heart of Washington, D.C., the George Washington University Museum and The Textile Museum celebrates the creative achievements of local and global cultures from antiquity through today. Our collections include international textile art, and artifacts that trace the evolution of Washington, D.C. Faculty and students activate these collections for research, teaching, and learning in academic disciplines across the university. The museum’s exhibitions, educational programs, and publications reach communities in the D.C. area and around the world. The museum is accredited by the American Alliance of Museums. Visit our galleries, meet artists and scholars, or learn a new skill in a workshop. Our museum connects you to cultures around the corner and across the globe.

Exhibits

Korean Fashion: From Royal Court to Runway

After centuries of relative isolation, Korea opened its borders to international trade and diplomacy in 1876, but for years the country remained little known outside of Asia. Korea’s participation in the Chicago World’s Fair in 1893 changed that. Visitors to the Korean pavilion were dazzled by the colorful displays of traditional clothing (hanbok), such as embroidered silk jackets and robes made for the Joseon royal court.

In Korean Fashion: From Royal Court to Runway, you can see some of the same garments that were showcased in Chicago in 1893, as well as other rare examples of ceremonial and everyday clothing from Korea’s last royal dynasty. Continuing into the modern era, the exhibition showcases the fashions of pioneering Korean designers such as Nora Noh in 1950s and 60s, and Lee Young Hee and Icinoo in the 90s, the first Korean designers to present their collections on Paris runways.

In the 21st century, South Korea has emerged as a pop culture powerhouse and one of the most fashion-forward nations in the world. This exhibition presents fresh-off-the-runway ensembles that reveal how contemporary designers such as Lie Sang Bong are blending the historical and avant-garde, local and cosmopolitan, and high and popular culture to create a distinctive and compelling Korean voice.

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