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 Historical Reproduction Undergarments for Textiles Exhibition?

Siriana Lundgren's profile image
Siriana Lundgren posted 04-15-2026 12:00 PM

Hi Folks, 

Our team will be mounting our first fashion exhibition in a few months, and we could use some help with properly dressing our mannikins. We're going to be showing an 1873 Bustle Wedding Dress, and need proper corsetry, bustles, pads, etc. to help the dress achieve it's original shape. Have any of you worked with a fabricator to reproduce historical undergarments for display? Any recommendations? 

Thanks so much! 

Lana Newhart-Kellen's profile image
Lana Newhart-Kellen posted 04-15-2026 12:36 PM

Try Past Patterns.  They take patterns from original clothing.

ALFHAM has a list of resources (https://alhfam.org/)

Any living history museum like Greenfield Village at The Henry Ford Museum has a costume department, as well as Conner Prairie and Old Sturbridge.

Searching on Civil War sutler will bring up sources as well.

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