The Costume and Textile Association (C&TA) is a lively organisation bringing together people who are keen to see and learn more about the history and development of fashion, costume and textiles. We are based in the ‘Fine City’ of Norwich, Norfolk, in the East of England, which owes much to the textile industry that brought wealth, prosperity and prestige to the city and surrounding counties between the 12th and 19th centuries. The C&TA seeks to promote the unique costume and textile heritage of Norwich and Norfolk and the collections of the Norfolk Museums Service and to promote interest and encourage research into historical costumes, fashions and textiles. |
A programme of in-person and online events throughout the year brings together like-minded friends. We hold talks, organise workshops and shows, visit exhibitions and events locally and nationally, and our lively online community enjoys a wide range of talks and presentations from experts around the world. Workshops, fashion shows, displays and events are enlivened by costumes and textiles from the C&TA’s resource collection of vintage textiles and privately owned collections. Over the last three and a half decades, Costume and Textile Association members have contributed more than £120,000 to encourage scholarly research and enable the Norfolk Museums Service (NMS) to extend and improve its extensive costume and textile collection. In addition, the C&TA offers a range of student awards and a biannual bursary for research into costume/textiles. Across our many collaborative textile-based projects we encourage environmental sustainability and aim to foster mental well-being and positivity for all participants. |