About

The Costume Museum of Canada is Canada’s first museum dedicated to the collection, preservation and presentation of clothing and textiles. The collection reflects the identity and social history of Canadians urban and rural, public and private.

The collection of 35,000 artifacts is stored in Winnipeg and includes men’s women’s and children’s clothing, accessories and miscellaneous accoutrements. One of the earliest artifacts is a blue and white silk taffeta dress with matching shoes circa 1765.

The museum has its roots in Dugald Manitoba with the work of the Women’s Institute who began with fashion shows in 1953 and then opened a museum in 1983. In 2007 the museum was relocated to Winnipeg.

The Museum gallery was closed to the public in 2012 but we continue to offer programs which make the collection available to the public. The programs include pop-up exhibits, heritage fashion revues, hat shows and educational programs.