A Bead-ing Heart: The Ethics and Process of Conserving Costume for Active Use
Claire Isabel Zimmeth
Fashion and Textile Studies: History, Theory, Museum Practice
About this Item
- Title
- A Bead-ing Heart: The Ethics and Process of Conserving Costume for Active Use
- Contributor Names
-
Zimmeth, Claire Isabel (Author)
-
O'connor, Callie (Thesis advisor)
-
Fashion Institute of Technology, State University of New York. Fashion and Textile Studies: History, Theory, Museum Practice (Degree granting institution)
- Date
- 2025
- Degree Information
- M.A. Fashion Institute of Technology, State University of New York 2025
- Department: Fashion and Textile Studies: History, Theory, Museum Practice
- Advisor: Callie O'connor
- Committee Members: Hilary Davidson, Brooke Carlson
- Abstract
-
This qualifying paper documents the conservation treatment of a privately owned circa 1922-1924 evening dress with the goal of returning it to active use.
The first section of the paper examines the historical context and provenance of the dress. Investigations into the color and inspiration for the beaded motifs show how this dress exemplifies the fashion of the time that it was made. The second section of the paper is a full documentation of the condition of the dress and treatment proposal. The third section details the treatment performed and results.
The final section of the paper is a post-treatment reflection, discussing how the results of the treatment relate to ethical considerations surrounding wearing historical clothing. The paper seeks to evaluate if a conservator can approach a treatment with the goal of active use while still adhering to accepted ethical guidelines set forth by professional organizations governing conservation practices such as ICOM and AIC. - Keyword
- Acceptable use
- Beaded dress
- Ethical best practice
- Historic clothing
- Textile conservation
- Twentieth century dress
- Rights
- In Copyright
- The copyright for this work is held by its author/creator(s). Usage of this material beyond what is permitted by copyright law must first be cleared with the rights-holder(s). This work has been made available online by the Fashion Institute of Technology Gladys Marcus Library strictly for research and educational purposes. If you are the copyright holder for this work and have any objections to this work being made available online, please notify us immediately at [email protected].
- Identifier
- FIT Repository ID: etd_001031
- ISBN: 9798280713918
- Publication Number: 31998271
- Submission ID: 10460
- Language
- English
- Publisher
- Ann Arbor : ProQuest Dissertations & Theses
Citation
Zimmeth, C. I. (2025). A Bead-ing Heart: The Ethics and Process of Conserving Costume for Active Use [Master's thesis, Fashion Institute of Technology, State University of New York]. FIT Institutional Repository. https://institutionalrepository.fitnyc.edu/item/634896
Zimmeth, Claire Isabel. A Bead-ing Heart: The Ethics and Process of Conserving Costume for Active Use. 2025. Fashion Institute of Technology, State University of New York, Master's thesis. FIT Institutional Repository, https://institutionalrepository.fitnyc.edu/item/634896
Zimmeth, Claire Isabel. "A Bead-ing Heart: The Ethics and Process of Conserving Costume for Active Use." Master's thesis, Fashion Institute of Technology, State University of New York, 2025. https://institutionalrepository.fitnyc.edu/item/634896