Fashion History Museum
Fashion History Museum
4.5
12:00 PM - 5:00 PM
Wednesday
12:00 PM - 5:00 PM
Thursday
12:00 PM - 5:00 PM
Friday
12:00 PM - 5:00 PM
Saturday
12:00 PM - 5:00 PM
Sunday
12:00 PM - 5:00 PM
About
Like food and shelter, clothing is a necessity as well as a cultural expression. The fashion industry employs millions of people around the world and is a driving force behind the global economy. But fashion is also ephemeral, whimsically responding to changes in technology, taste, the economy, and social mores. The journey fashion takes from inception to production and from popularity to outdated is a fascinating story worthy of being told. The Fashion History Museum is a charitable not-for profit organization, founded in 2004, that captures the story of fashion through exhibitions using its collection of over 10,000 garments and accessories dating from the 1660s to the present. Alongside historical dress, the museum is building a contemporary Canadian designer collection as well as a comprehensive library and archives of fashion related publications and documents. Since 2004 we have been creating exhibitions that have travelled throughout Canada and as far afield as Hong Kong and Bahrain. In June 2015 we opened galleries in the old post office in the former town of Hespeler Ontario, now northern Cambridge. Three galleries in the museum are each changed once or twice a year to feature different topics and eras of fashion history.
Duration: < 1 hour
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Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.
Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as waiting time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.
Popular mentions
4.5
60 reviews
Excellent
39
Very good
14
Average
5
Poor
0
Terrible
2
Debbie S
Waterloo, Canada1 contribution
Dec 2019
Rather than being a massive museum with an overwhelming number of displays, this is a boutique museum showing a smaller, carefully chosen selection of special pieces. The museum also holds events like an 1812 Regency country ball, a 1912 Tango tea, and for 2020 a 1945 Victory dance in honour of the 75th anniversary of the end of World War II. It's time to party like it's 1945.
Written January 7, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
aqlollipop
aqlollipop25 contributions
Sept 2023 • Couples
This is a small gem of a museum. If you are in the area, definitely it's worth a visit. The collection is really nice, well described and displayed, and is a quick visit to experience, so not a huge commitment of time. I think for anyone who is interested in fashion or fashion history, this is a great place to seek out. Overall, I found this to be great museum and a nice find during a visit to the area.
Written October 3, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
avgjoey
Barrie, Canada550 contributions
Aug 2022
Neat little museum dedicated to the history of fashion. Surprised the amount of displays and diversity of the displays. Takes about a hour to thoroughly take into the historical evolution. A bit expensive but can understand. Parking lots in the area
Written October 30, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Sophie3235
7 contributions
Jun 2015 • Solo
A wonderful treasure for fashion lovers, in the heart of Hespler. Set in a remodelled 1922 Post Office, this collection is presented with the style and professionalism of an international institution. Although it is a small space, the collection itself covers a huge rage of periods and styles, carefully curated to present focussed exhibitions. Currently on display are two major areas: Treasures of the Collection and Styles of the Eighties. Both are excellent, presenting garments of both historic note (e.g. a suit made for Eva Peron) as well as wonderful examples of "How did we every wear that??" from the 1980s.
Written July 24, 2015
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Thank-you for your visit and review of our museum. It has only been 4 months since we opened but we have been delighted with the public response.
Written October 27, 2015
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Jackie A
1 contribution
May 2023 • Friends
It was advertised as "white linen high tea for Coronation Day" totally false advertising!!!! No white linens- not even a tablecloth, no Coronation decorations, and no high tea !!! Presentation was non existent, meal was not served all together on a 3 tiered tray. Sandwiches were long skinny strips with next to no filling on them, you could see through the 2 pieces of cucumber and no taste of cream cheese, egg salad tasted like tuna and chicken salad tasted like eggs - obviously some cross-contamination in the kitchen !! Served on a plate and not the fillings advertised. Tea was weak and luke warm - with no choice of flavors. Scones, or what they called scones looked and tasted more like a bun, no Devon cream just jam and butter - which they claimed was cream !! I have had tons of Devon cream and can tell you 100% it was not Devon Cream, it was yellow butter !! Sweets we left on the table as they were nasty looking and definitely not as advertised on their menu !!! The only part of the "high tea" we actually received was the high price ($45.20) Very disappointing!!!!! Save your money and excitement for another venue - this is not the one to go to !!!!
Written May 8, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
The only true thing amongst Jackie Auger's imagined list of complaints is that we had run out of white linen tablecloths and for this I apologize. Jackie and her companion Helen came to the third sitting of our Coronation theme teas, and we had run out of tablecloths, so they had the marble top table instead. Otherwise, everything was exactly as advertised, including the menu, and it was served in a gallery decorated with framed Coronation scarves and handkerchiefs from George VI and Elizabeth II.
I answered their query about the Devon cream being butter by quietly bringing the jar from which the cream had been extracted to show that it was indeed Devon cream, imported from Devon. All of Jackie's other complaints were not brought up during their visit, but I can assure her we never serve tuna sandwiches, that the 'long, skinny strips' are called finger sandwiches, attempts to bring a fresh pot of tea were twice refused, and the scone was from an award-winning bakery that is known for their scones. It's true we don't use a 3-tier tray to serve the food but is that required?
Finally, the tea was $28.00 - the $45.20 included admission to the museum, which they refused to tour or take coupons to return at a later date, and the tax.
We are not a tea room, we are a museum that offered a special tea for the King's coronation by serving an English-themed high tea. I don't know what Jackie and Helen were expecting but whatever it was, by the time they left they had lathered themselves into a pair of termagant 'Karens'. We even offered them a refund for their tea, but they preferred the drama of screaming at the staff and visitors who were entering the building that "This place is disgusting".
They are now on a mission to sully the museum's reputation by writing missives of mythical grievances.
Jonathan Walford, Curatorial Director, Fashion History Museum
Written August 11, 2023
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Worldtraveller2005
Toronto, Canada394 contributions
Apr 2019 • Family
It is basically one room sectioned into 2 parts. Right now it has 2 exhibits, Made in France (French fashion); and Victoria erra - a handful items. It takes 30 minutes to go through. I thought it would be half size of Bata shoe museum, but this is much much smaller, 10% maybe.
Written April 24, 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
I am sorry to hear you were disappointed with your visit, especially as we have over 100 artifacts on display right now that include gowns by Worth, Schiaparelli, Balenciaga, Dior, St. Laurent, Lanvin, Givenchy, Poiret, Alix, Cheruit, Desses, Cardin, Fath, Ricci, Courreges, Hermes, Ungaro, Patou, Balmain and many more... as well as a chemise worn by Queen Victoria. The average visitor spends about 50 minutes in the 3,000 square feet of display space we have at the museum.
Written April 25, 2019
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
redhab
canada20 contributions
Jul 2017 • Friends
Located in the former old Hespeler village (slowly being gentrified ) The museum is housed in the former post office building. There was a decent curated history of the former local textiles industry and the fashion clothes on display . Some interesting bits of history such as the "hat trick " in hockey and the canadian tartan pattern on the man's jacket was interesting to see. In addition seeing society Toronto ladies couture outfits was delightful . The 70s and 80s were a strong period in Canadian fashion from the labels and brands on display. The nice surprise was the exhibition "Jane Austen's World: 1792 - 1817" which consists of rare dresses, shoes, shawls and other accessories. Mr Darcy would have approved . The price at $5 for adults was more than reasonable and psssst down the street is an old costume masquerade store dusty and bit neglected yet I saw some really vintage costumes peeking out . (maskarade manor ) .
Written January 29, 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Matthew A
Toronto, Canada112 contributions
Nov 2017 • Family
Quite a few interesting things to see but be prepared, it's really small. Kids get in free and adults are $5
Written November 25, 2017
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Great things come in small packages! Don't be fooled by our square footage, we show a lot of extremely rare and beautiful objects at the Fashion History Museum.
Written July 11, 2018
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
sarahC436TC
Cobourg, Canada20 contributions
Nov 2015 • Solo
I traveled a distance to visit and was not disappointed! The exhibits were lovely and interesting. I particularly loved the blue silk dress from 1882 - it was really neat to see the painted decorations on it. I will definitely be coming back so see their new exhibits in March! Really interesting gift shop as well - I love the variety of fashion books for sale.
Written November 18, 2015
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
JudithFielder
Toronto, Canada1 contribution
Oct 2015 • Friends
Lovers of design, clothing, cloth and small museums will delight in the Fashion History Museum located just outside of Toronto in Hespeler, (Cambridge).
The current exhibit deals with the 1980s in all its broad shouldered, fringed and embroidered glory. Close up looks at items from the great Rei Kawakubo are full of surprises. In the second gallery the photography exhibit of the club scenes in 1980s London and New York is a perfect complement to the main show.
A smaller exhibit, Treasures of the Collection, is a trip around the world through time with a woven, paper fibre corset from Germany, a 1930s Japanese under kimono printed with war planes and impossibly tiny, 19th century dancing shoes.
And, if you are there at lunch or tea time, the cafe Creme, just down the street, is a must with sandwiches, a comprehensive tea list and Dufflet pastries.
Judith Fielder Toronto
The current exhibit deals with the 1980s in all its broad shouldered, fringed and embroidered glory. Close up looks at items from the great Rei Kawakubo are full of surprises. In the second gallery the photography exhibit of the club scenes in 1980s London and New York is a perfect complement to the main show.
A smaller exhibit, Treasures of the Collection, is a trip around the world through time with a woven, paper fibre corset from Germany, a 1930s Japanese under kimono printed with war planes and impossibly tiny, 19th century dancing shoes.
And, if you are there at lunch or tea time, the cafe Creme, just down the street, is a must with sandwiches, a comprehensive tea list and Dufflet pastries.
Judith Fielder Toronto
Written October 20, 2015
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Thank-you for your visit and review of our museum. It has only been 4 months since we opened but we have been delighted with the public response.
Written October 27, 2015
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
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