Museum's Fashion Collection Reborn After Devastating Fire

A fire, ignited by two bombs in 1976 during a period of civil unrest, destroyed almost the entirety of the Ulster Museum's fashion collection. The extensive costume and textile items were stored at Malone House in Belfast when the attack occurred. Miraculously, a single 18th-century embroidered quilt, on display at the museum at the time, was the sole survivor.

Fifty years on, a new exhibition chronicles the successful effort to rebuild the collection from scratch. Art curator Elizabeth McCrum, who was involved in the initial rebuilding phase in 1978, expressed pride in the curators' achievements. She recalled the immense task of recreating a collection that had taken 70 years to accumulate, highlighting the loss of irreplaceable items like a late Elizabethan jacket.

The current curator, Charlotte McReynolds, finds inspiration in the resilience shown in rebuilding the collection, transforming a tragedy into something beautiful. She acknowledged the sadness for those who entrusted pieces to the museum. The collection now features historical items, such as 18th-century silk gowns, alongside contemporary designs by figures like Jonathan Anderson, ensuring fashion history continues to evolve and inspire.