Spanning more than 300 years of life in Cornwall, the clothes and accessories in this exhibition reflect moments of celebration, duty, love and identity. These objects once belonged to real people connected to Helston and the surrounding area. Some were handmade locally, others travelled from renowned fashion houses, while some were worn in moments of public service, community pride or personal significance.
Together, these objects tell stories that reach beyond the fabric itself. They reveal how people expressed belonging, presented themselves to the world and served their communities. Through the lives of the people who wore them, we glimpse the bigger story of Cornwall – its traditions, its connections to the wider world and the changing experiences of everyday life.
Organised around four themes – Belonging, Appearance, Service and Craft of the Maker – this exhibition invites visitors to explore clothing as more than fashion. These garments and objects are records of human experience, carrying traces of lives, relationships and the communities that shaped them.
If these clothes could talk, what stories would they tell?
This exhibition has been curated by volunteer Costume Curator Andrea Newall supported by Assistant Costume Curator Jane Bodle with grateful advice from Lucy Jenner-Brown. On most Wednesdays Andrea will at 11.30am will provide a walk and talk around the exhibition.