CIETA Congress 2025
Museo del Traje, Madrid, ES
23.09 – 26.09.2025

NEW DIRECTIONS IN THE STUDY OF HISTORICAL TEXTILES

The study of textiles and dress has expanded considerably over the last few decades, embracing research approaches and methods from a range of disciplines: they include anthropology, archaeology, conservation practice and science and the histories of techniques and technology, of art, craft and design, of culture, economics and society. The themes broached have been similarly broad and probing, touching on multiple aspects of textile production, dissemination and consumption, from the preparation of raw materials to the making and recycling of garments or furnishings. They have accordingly examined many aspects of human experience and many meanings attached to different object types. This conference seeks to contribute further to sharing and developing innovative forms of analysis relative to familiar and unfamiliar textile objects and traditions, including the intersection between textiles and dress.

The theme of the conference, “New Directions in the Study of Historical Textiles”, will complement the exhibition being held at the Museo del Traje (Dress Museum) in Madrid, which will host the conference, reflecting on the historiography of dress and textiles, recent developments in the field, and promising futures. Madrid is home to textile collections that reveal Spain’s heritage representing diverse cultures and peoples.

More information: cieta.fr/congress/cieta-congress-2025/