New Zealand Fashion Museum

The New Zealand Fashion Museum is the brainchild of fashion designer, turned fashion historian, Doris de Pont. Established as a charitable trust in January 2010, the museum is of no fixed abode, but holds “pop-up” exhibitions around New Zealand, and will be an online museum. Unconstrained by the responsibility of holding and preserving collections, the museum draws from public and private collections to pull together its exhibitions.

Looking Terrific – the Story of El Jay was the first ‘pop up’ exhibition of the New Zealand Fashion Museum. Curated by Doris de Pont, the exhibition showcased over 50 vintage garments by New Zealand fashion industry leader Gus Fisher and his label El Jay. The venues for Looking Terrific also contributed meaning to the story, with the Auckland exhibition being held at the Gus Fisher Gallery and the Wellington season hosted by Kirkcaldie and Stains, who welcomed the clothes back into their store as loyal stockists of El Jay during its fifty-year history.

Once an exhibition has completed its run it will be recorded for posterity on the fashion museum’s website www.fashionmuseum.org.nz and the exhibits will be returned to the homes that love them. The website, will be developed as funds are raised for the project. “I think this moveable museum with no permanent home is the first of its kind anywhere,” de Pont says. “Because it is very much about sharing fashion experiences anyone can be part of it. The museum’s website has details on how people can stay informed and get involved.”

The New Zealand Fashion Museum Charitable Trust trustees include: Doris de Pont, former fashion designer and anthropologist, from Auckland Margo Barton, a leading fashion educator from Dunedin Dr Sandy Callister, a brand and communications strategist from Wellington Dianne Ludwig, a business advisor from Auckland Lisa Coleman, in information technology expert from Auckland Julia Cahill, a lawyer from Auckland