Abstract

Fashion museum exhibitions are spaces for the public to learn about their own and other communities’ historical and cultural narratives. However, numerous fashion museums have largely excluded exhibition topics focused on marginalized communities in the United States. This research explores how visitors responded to a museum exhibition that focused on Black women’s clothing styles in a predominantly White geographical location and space. We first review past museum practices that have perpetuated exclusivity within the museum, along with more recent initiatives to create fashion exhibitions where culturally diverse groups are represented. We then report the findings from a museum visitor survey from our recently mounted exhibition titled ‘Collegiate Fashion and Activism: Black Women’s Styles on the College Campus.’ Last, we provide recommendations for fashion museum professionals considering diversity initiatives.