Discover the Art and Heritage of Haute Couture Patterns
Welcome to the Couture Pattern Museum, nestled on the border of the Arts District in Santa Barbara, California. We are home to one of the world's largest and most exceptional collections of haute couture and high-fashion sewing patterns, with a concentration on the golden age of couture. Our museum champions the view that couture sewing patterns are not just tools for dressmaking but are culturally significant artifacts that reflect the craftsmanship and aesthetic values of their eras.
Our collection includes rare patterns from leading international and American fashion houses, and some are possibly the last existing copies of these haute couture designs. We serve as a cultural bridge, celebrating the artistic achievements that have shaped the fashion industries of France and the United States. These patterns chronicle fashion history, foster a cultural dialogue, and celebrate and preserve a rich heritage that intertwines high fashion and home sewing.
As a vibrant educational hub, our museum uses these invaluable artifacts to educate, inspire, and promote craftsmanship. We invite our community to explore the world of haute couture through exhibitions, educational programs, and digital forums, making the legacy of fashion both accessible - and engaging to all.
Join Our Community
Founding Member
35$Every monthBecome a Founding Member and Patron of the Couture Tradition- Industry Couture Techniques & Discussion in Founders Circle
- Scholarly Access to Pattern Database: Education & Research
- Includes access to our premium content library
- Educational materials billed separately + shipping
- Average cost of educational material: $100 - $250 + shipping
- Note: (Plan does not include digital pattern downloads)
- Complimentary Annual Visit to the Museum in SB: $125 Value
- Atelier Blog: Learn how each dress is made
- All Online Courses, Workshops & Online Seminars
- 20% off Couture Mentoring Program, $140 Value
- Chance to Exhibit Your Work in a Santa Barbara Exhibition
- Cancel anytime, but we ask for a one-year pledge
- *please read Site Terms about early cancellation
- Complimentary Couture Forum on iOS & Android
Upholders of Couture
5$Every monthCommunity Support Plan for $5/mo. Couture Forum & View Database (Pattern downloads not included)- Couture Forum, an online community to share, discuss & learn
- Ability to view the Database for Research & Inspiration
- *(Does not include pattern downloads)
- Couture Forum Access on iOS & Android
- Access to Select Atelier Blog Posts
- Cancel Anytime
Sponsor a Pattern to Digitize
95$Your Name Displayed Next to the Pattern in the Museum DatabaseValid for one year- Your name displayed next to the pattern in database
- One year access to the database for research and inspiration
- (Digital downloads not included)
- Social Media and Newsletter Acknowledgment
- Access to Complimentary Couture Forum on iOS & Android
- Great Corporate or Gift Idea!
Upcoming Events
Multiple DatesThu, May 02WorkzonesMay 02, 2024, 5:00 PM – 8:00 PMWorkzones, 351 Paseo Nuevo, Santa Barbara, CA 93101, USA
Multiple DatesThu, Jun 06Workzones, Paseo Nuevo MallJun 06, 2024, 5:00 PM – 8:00 PM PDTWorkzones, Paseo Nuevo Mall, 351 Paseo Nuevo, Santa Barbara, CA 93101, USAJun 06, 2024, 5:00 PM – 8:00 PM PDTWorkzones, Paseo Nuevo Mall, 351 Paseo Nuevo, Santa Barbara, CA 93101, USACelebrating the 100th birthday of the iconic Californian designer, James Galanos. This exhibition highlights Galanos' early work in his career, and unveils his unique contribution to making high fashion accessible through his 1950s patterns.
Couture Pattern Archive: A New Approach to Fashion Conservation
The Couture Pattern Museum preserves crucial information and design blueprints of haute couture garments, making them available to researchers, students, and enthusiasts. Unlike traditional museums, which primarily focus on the conservation of garments themselves, our emphasis is on safeguarding the patterns that are the foundation of haute couture's exquisite creations. This distinction is crucial because the inherent fragility of fabrics has made museums hesitant to lend their collections for educational purposes, making the study of historical haute couture garments increasingly inaccessible.
Our conservation efforts focus on preserving and documenting the patterns in our collection. We digitize the information on each pattern envelope and store these records in our online database, accessible to members. Additionally, full scans of the patterns are securely stored within our internal database and are made available upon request for educational purposes to scholars, researchers, and students.* Additionally, we use archival-quality materials to safeguard the physical artifacts. We have also established guidelines that dictate how researchers and staff handle these items, creating a system that allows for the study of pattern blueprints without causing further damage to the originals.
We are dedicated to making the beauty of couture and the techniques used to create them, accessible to our community. Through exhibitions, educational programs, and online resources, we invite our community to explore the world of haute couture craftsmanship. Our museum is not just a repository of patterns, but a living classroom, where the legacy of fashion is taught, discussed, and admired.
*Due to restrictions, we do not allow for unlimited digital downloads of the patterns in our online database.
The Urgency and Importance of Preserving Historical Couture Patterns: Our Mission
Very few haute couture houses have maintained archives of their significant designs, and many of these once-prominent houses no longer exist. The only remnants of their legacy often lie in the patterns they released. Furthermore, pattern publishers typically did not retain copies, records, or contracts of the patterns they issued.
Our museum's mission is critical: to safeguard and digitize these invaluable paper patterns before the delicate tissue paper and accompanying instructions deteriorate, ensuring their preservation as they risk fading from our collective memory.
Unlike other museums that hold paper pattern archives, ours specializes in haute couture patterns from the golden age of couture, a period when fashion significantly influenced the social and cultural domain. The stories of democratization within fashion, pivotal during this era, are often overlooked in other collections, due to their vast collections. These collections also tend to be less accessible, typically not providing complete digitization of both the front and back of pattern envelopes. The pattern schematics in these archives are often derived from rough illustrations on the backs of envelopes, and they lack accuracy and do not include detailed instructions.
Addressing these gaps, we are committed to a rigorous process, investing in and utilizing specialized equipment and undertaking the intense labor required to digitize entire patterns in full. This effort ensures every detail is preserved, making our collection a complete repository and an active, educational resource dedicated to the meticulous documentation of haute couture’s rich history.
Digitizing, Reviving & Exhibiting the Museum's Collection
The Couture Pattern Museum is undertaking a monumental project to digitize our vast collection of haute couture sewing patterns. Holding some of the rarest physical copies from the world's most celebrated haute couture designers, including items of historical significance like the Coronation robe and frock blessed by Queen Elizabeth II, we recognize the importance of preserving these treasures for future generations. We extend our heartfelt gratitude to our members and supporters, who play a crucial role in advancing our mission.
A Commitment to Fashion History and Preservation
Explore our unique collection and support our mission to preserve the art and heritage of haute couture by sponsoring a pattern, or donating down below through our fiscal sponsor, Creative Visions. Visit us in Santa Barbara or become a founding member and explore the rich history of fashion and design through the Couture Pattern Museum.
