Fashion Showcased On 19th Century Catwalk

A Century of Style: Costume and Colour 1800-1899 will open at the Kelvingrove Museum and Art Gallery in Glasgow on Friday and will run until February 14.

The exhibition will reflect Glasgow's role as a leading textile manufacturer and the city's status as a major retail centre. The accompanying descriptions will explore how, where and for whom the clothes were made.

Also on display will be a selection of accessories including delicate jewellery, embellished shoes, original draping Kashmir shawls, purses and parasols.

The exhibition also researches behind the scenes of key inventions such as the sewing machine, aniline dyes and paper patterns. Together these discoveries helped revolutionise the fashion industry and enabled the mass production of clothing.

Scottish new designer of the year Judy R Clark said: "Nineteenth-century European costume has always been a time of great inspiration to me and is something I love to gaze at. It's a real treat, such an ornate showcase of beautifully tailored garments at the iconic Kelvingrove Museum in Glasgow.

"The exhibition has been beautifully put together and I think the public will really enjoy the journey from exploring the exquisite couture collections to discovering how paper patterns and sewing machines helped revolutionise the industry. It's a fascinating story.''

Archie Graham, chair of Glasgow Life, said: "During the 19th century, Glasgow played a huge part in both the textile and retail industries and we are delighted to welcome the fantastic exhibition to Kelvingrove. As well as allowing visitors to Kelvingrove to marvel at the magnificent outfits on display, this exhibition will significantly add to our knowledge and understanding of the collection.''

Rebecca Quinton, a Glasgow Museums curator, said: "This exhibition is the culmination of more than three years' work. The project has enabled a small team of specialists to painstakingly research and conserve over 40 outfits.

"A Century of Style showcases the cream of the city's amazing collection in all its splendour and I hope it will spark an interest in costume and clothing among the many people we look forward to welcoming to Kelvingrove over the coming months.''