Shippensburg University’s Fashion Archives and Museum has opened its latest exhibit last Thursdsay, called “Through the lens of the beholder: The Fine Art of Fashion” where students displayed clothes and accessories from prominent designers of the 19th and 20th centuries.

The event has a different theme every year. This year’s theme was focused on the “fine art” aspect of fashion, as well as the detail and precision that went into the pieces that made the designers and the people who wore them memorable.

Students, volunteers and interns help to put this event together by sifting through clothing donations and sorting the gems from the rags.

These pieces will go on to be displayed in the museum or preserved in the basement of the Fashion Archives building. Pieces ranged from Chanel suits, authentic German lederhosen, Indian saris, kimonos and many more.

“We have thousands of pieces we can pick from,” volunteer Molly Ryan said. “There are racks of clothes from so many different eras that describe and encapture that time period.”

The museum partnered with student photographers from numerous departments to capture the detail of fabrics, lace and buttons that would not be seen normally by the naked eye. Photos are hung around the artifacts to depict the detail of the clothing and accessories.

Museum Director Karin Bolileke said the archives are dependent on the student body and that it was important for her to “reach out to other departments” whose art could be incorporated in the exhibit.

“It’s a lot more than just putting cute clothes on a mannequin — which is my favorite part,” Ryan said. “It’s about the preservation of history.”

“We put a lot of ourselves into it,” student Meriah Swope said. “We’re all very passionate about the work we’ve done. We clean and preserve all of the clothes and accessories ourselves.”

Next year’s theme will be “Fashions of Fiction,” in which mannequins will be dressed up as characters from Jane Austen novels.

Bolileke encourages students and community members to sign up for her newsletter, which will give out the book list in the summer that will be incorporated and come to life the 2018 exhibit.

The Fashion Archives and Museum’s new collection is open from noon to 4 p.m. Monday through Thursday. Students, faculty and community members are welcome to view these works until Dec. 7, 2017.

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