SHEPPARTON and the new Museum of Vehicle Evolution (MOVE) are incredibly fortunate to become the new home of one of our nation’s largest and most significant collections of Australian fashions and accessories.
The famous Loel Thomson Clothing Collection, previously from Bulleen, Melbourne, features around 10,000 unique pieces that encapsulate the history of Australian everyday fashion. Each item explores social history through evolving styles and manufacturing techniques spanning more than 200 years.
It may surprise you, but the clothing collection at MOVE is more than something on offer for visitors who aren’t motorheads or car enthusiasts. This collection shares striking parallels to transportation, including the ‘Duster Coat’ that emerged alongside the motor car for protecting a lady’s clothing from dust kicked up by vehicles, as well as driving goggles, gloves, and other retro travel wear.
Fashion historian and museum consultant, Nicole Jenkins, has been assisting staff and volunteers at MOVE with the exhibition.
“Shepparton should be incredibly proud to have acquired this collection, which includes many rare and valuable items including menswear from the 1940s, garments from the Great Depression and items right across history up to the 2000s.”
The exhibition space at MOVE is now open to the public, offering the first chance to experience Loel’s private collection of handpicked items.
A COLLECTOR OF FASHION… Loel Thomson OAM has placed a large part of her collection of thousands of items of historical fashion at MOVE. Photos: Supplied
