Avenir Museum of Design and Merchandising

01/06/2025

Congratulations to Dr. Paula Alaszkiewicz, Assistant Curator of the Avenir Museum of Design and Merchandising, for being honored with the prestigious Marilyn DeLong Curatorial Exhibition Excellence Award! 🌟

This award recognizes Paula's outstanding dedication to textile preservation and her commitment to sharing the cultural and historical significance of these works of art.

Please join us in celebrating Dr. Paula Alaszkiewicz and this prestigious honor 🧵✨

01/02/2025

Introducing...Mocha Mousse!

Did you know? Pantone annually selects a ‘Color of the Year’ to “capture the global zeitgeist” and “express a global mood and attitude through a single, distinct hue.” Pantone’s ‘Color of the Year’ 2025 is !

For some, this color may bring to mind the indulgence of treats like coffee or chocolate. Our first thought was this delectable brown silk 1880s confection of a dress garnished with the pleats, swags, ruffles, ribbons, and lace that were popular during the period.

Dress, c. 1880, Silk and stone, Avenir Museum no. 1988.1.1

12/31/2024

The Avenir Museum started this year with big goals, and we are ending the year with immense gratitude! 🏆

We greeted more visitors, hosted more programs, said “good luck” to old friends and welcomed new faces in 2024. The Avenir Museum of Design and Merchandising is honored to have achieved accreditation from the American Alliance of Museums, a longstanding goal for museum staff and leadership, amongst all the other achievements this year.

Please enjoy this look at a few of the highlights of our year! Thank you for the wonderful memories you helped us create in 2024. We look forward to the new year and all the excitement it will bring!

📬 Are you interested in keeping up with the Avenir Museum throughout the year? Visit this link to sign up for our quarterly newsletter to stay up to date on the most recent exhibitions, programs, and other news 🔗https://col.st/GS4ll

12/19/2024

Have you heard the big news? 🥳

The Avenir Museum of CSU Department of Design and Merchandising has achieved accreditation by the American Alliance of Museums! This prestigious accreditation is the highest national recognition afforded to the nation’s museums. Accreditation signifies excellence to the museum community, to governments, funders, outside agencies, and to the museum-going public.

Accreditation is a rigorous but highly rewarding process that examines all aspects of a museum’s operations. Visit the link to read more about this new level of prestige, the Avenir’s journey to accreditation, and what accreditation means for visitors to the Avenir! 🔗https://col.st/pY3mQ

12/17/2024

These objects are the perfect examples of how details and texture can bring a piece to life!

Sometimes, photographing black objects can be difficult, so it is always helpful when there is an eye-catching detail to focus on. The crystals on the bolero style jacket in object one and the figured silk of the skirt on object two create visual interest and make us want to take a closer look!

Black dress with bolero jacket, Carolina Herrera, c. 1980, synthetic, Avenir Museum no. 2004.187
Black dress with satin skirt, Carolina Herrera, c. 1980, synthetic, Avenir Museum no. 2004.152

12/15/2024

The Avenir Museum of Design and Merchandising will be closed from December 22, 2024 to January 20, 2025.

We will reopen with regular public hours on Tuesday, January 21, 2025 with two new exhibitions.

We hope you have a restful and relaxing winter break!

12/12/2024

For this week’s color post, we’re highlighting two stylish jackets that are currently on display in Tiger’s Leap! 🐅

👁️ What details can you see repeated in these two black jackets? What’s different about them? Notice the collar types, and the use and number of buttons.

For an in-person look, come check out our newest exhibition, 'Tiger’s Leap: Fashion Past, Present, Future', before we close for the university's winter break on December 21!

Redingote Coat by Alexander McQueen [England, founded 1992], 2008, Wool and Silk, Avenir Museum no. 2018.54.2

Men’s Suit Jacket, c. 1900, Wool, Avenir Museum no. 1989.43.6

12/10/2024

What can a 1960s paper dress tell us about the fashion industry today? 👗

🏭 The Scott Paper Company was a United States based company that produced household paper products like toilet roll and baby wipes. In 1966, they began producing disposable paper dresses as a marketing tactic to create excitement for their new line of throwaway table ware.

📬The dresses were the perfect vehicle for the bold prints of the time period. Shoppers could choose between a monochromatic OpArt print, and a red and yellow paisley pattern. The dresses were available by mail order and cost $1.25 to purchase, and came accompanied by coupons for other Scott Paper Company products. A fad was born; over 500,000 orders for the paper dresses were placed within a year.

⏳Paper dresses were made from a non-woven cellulose based fabric called Dura-Weave. Despite the name of the fabric, the dresses ripped easily and were not meant to withstanding washing or frequent use. Essentially, they were viewed as disposable.

🧐 These objects represent an interesting connection between fast fashion, marketing, and material that is as relevant today as these objects were in 1966. The Avenir Museum holds both colorways of the original Scott Paper Company dress as well as the supporting marketing material in our collection.

“Paper Caper Dress by Scott Paper Company, 1966 Dura-Weave Cellulose, Avenir Museum no. 1993.50.

“Paper Caper” Dress by Scott Paper Company, 1966, Dura-Weave Cellulose, Avenir Museum no. 1993.51. Now on view in our exhibition, ‘Tiger’s Leap: Fashion Past, Present, Future’.

Marketing material by Scott Paper Company, 1966, Paper.

12/07/2024

One week left before we must say goodbye to these beautiful embroidery pieces and carefully pack them for their global journey back home! 🎎🌏

We’ve been so honored to host the embroidery of Jungji Doh at the Avenir these last months. If you haven't been in to see the intricate work of a Master of Traditional Embroidery, or want to get one last look, be sure to come in soon! “Jungji Doh: Embroidery as Cultural Heritage” will close on December 14.

12/06/2024

One of our favorite student projects each year!

12/05/2024

You know the drill....a new month = a new color in the ! 🎩🐈‍⬛♟🖤

Our tradition as of late has been to start a new color feature by sharing the work of CSU alumna Lucile Hawks (M.S. Home Economics, ‘58). Though black is the absence of color, these mini quilts are a celebration of contrast and geometry!

Follow along all month as we bring you examples of black objects from the collection that use embellishment, pattern, and tailoring to create dimension and interest.

12/05/2024

12/03/2024

Need to finish that last minute gift for the holidays? 🎁

Bring your project and creativity and join us for the last Make & Mend of 2024! Not working on a current project? No worries!

For the first time we will be providing instructions for a drop in craft to construct your own fabric gift bag, to bring some sustainability to this gifting season.

Thank you for making our 2024 Make & Mends a success!

11/30/2024

Looking for a way to give back to your community this holiday season? 🤲

Join us for a Community Sewing Day! On Dec. 14, 2024, the Avenir Museum () is partnering with the Fort Collins Chapter of the American Sewing Guild () for a day of sewing to support our community! Join us to help make...

🛏️ Pillowcases to benefit Homeward Alliance ().

Homeward Alliance operates a continuum of programs and initiatives for families, adults, and seniors, such as basic needs, housing-focused case management, and employment services. They annually assist approximately 5,000 individuals and families who experience homelessness, empowering individuals and families who face homelessness to survive, move forward, and thrive through their advocacy and a variety of programs and initiatives.

🐶🐈 Pet beds to benefit Animal Friends Alliance ().

Animal Friends Alliance is Fort Collins based “limited admission, adoption guarantee shelter” for cats and dogs. They are committed to finding the right home for each animal in their care, and provide subsidized spay and neuter for dogs and cats they are unable to intake due to financial and space constraints. Since 2020, Animal Friends Alliance has helped adopt around 35,000 pets into loving homes!

11/22/2024

Who is ready for a Museum Scavenger Hunt?

Join the Avenir Museum of Design and Merchandising () and the Gregory Allicar Museum of Art () on Saturday, December 7, for a two-in-one museum scavenger hunt! Match objects on the sheet to objects on view in the gallery spaces at each museum.

While you are on your hunt, check out the events happening at each museum! GAMA is hosting Family Day, so drop in and try out their monthly activity. Make & Mend is happening at the Avenir for you to try your hand at mending or making a small sewing project.

“Paper Caper” dress by Scott Paper Company, Avenir Museum no. 1993.51

George Curtis Levi (Southern Cheyenne/Arapaho, Lakota), Ledger Art Shoes, 2024, fabric markers and acrylic paint on shoes, women’s size 8. Image courtesy of the artist.

Denim ensemble by miaou, Avenir museum no. 2024.18.1

Frans Pourbus, the Younger, Title unknown (Louis XIII of France), 17th century, oil on panel, Gregory Allicar Museum of Art, CSU, gift of Larry Hartford and Torleif Tandstad, 2016.1.12.

11/21/2024

If this were a contest, we’d give these objects a blue ribbon. 🏅

From cerulean sequins, to aquamarine taffeta, to sapphire velvet and satin, these Scaasi pieces don’t shy away from color or texture! These fun and festive dresses would certainly make a statement at upcoming holiday parties.

💙 Sequin dress and belt, Arnold Scaasi, United States, c. 1980, synthetic, Avenir Museum no. 971.533A/B
💙 Taffeta dress, Arnold Scaasi, United States, c. 1980, synthetic, Avenir Museum no. 971.547
💙 Velvet and satin dress, Arnold Scaasi, United States, c. 1980, synthetic, Avenir Museum no. 971.533
💙 Blue dress, Arnold Scaasi, United States, c. 1980, synthetic, Avenir Museum no. 971.559