The twentieth century saw significant innovations in the production and distribution of materials used to produce textiles, apparel, and accessories. These innovations included new fibers, fabric constructions, printing components, coatings, adhesives, finishes, and plastics. In our talk, we will discuss research from our latest book Conservation Concerns in Fashion Collections: Caring for Problematic Twentieth-Century Textiles, Apparel, and Accessories that draws upon industry reports from 1918 to 1999. Our research sheds light on how industry developments meant to enhance consumer products or offer cheaper alternatives sometimes resulted in consumer or post-consumer issues–for example, for individuals managing these products in personal or public collections—related to care or handling.

Co-sponsored by the Kheel Center for Labor-Management Documentation & Archives.