08/18/2026
Explore Luxe CT: Velvet Mills to Modern Runways, Mystic Museum of Art’s summer 2026 exhibition tracing the significance and evolution of textiles in our region—from the precolonial period to the present day.
Inspired by southeastern Connecticut’s velvet industry, Luxe CT brings together historic and contemporary beadwork, embroidery, quilts, velvet, and fashion to explore stories of labor, immigration, cultural identity, craftsmanship, and innovation woven into our region’s textile history.
The exhibition also features work by fashion designers with Connecticut ties, including XareaLockhart, Toriana Sauro, Christian Siriano , and Peter Som, Inc. —connecting centuries of textile traditions with fashion today.
Luxe CT: Velvet Mills to Modern Runways is on view at Mystic Museum of Art through October 11, 2026.
In this video, Thomas Benfield of Shaky Hands takes us inside the exhibition to explore the connections between textiles, fashion, and Mystic’s history.
Follow Thomas / Shaky Hands: https://www.thomasbenfield.com
https://youtu.be/WaFbQ95Livs?si=I43nczRhuVfrtd9p
Explore Luxe CT: Velvet Mills to Modern Runways, Mystic Museum of A...