Frequently Asked
Questions
Q: Why are you by appointment only?
The Couture Pattern Museum offers access by appointment to protect our irreplaceable collection and authentic haute couture garments, to create a private and intimate experience for you, and to remain open year-round. This model also supports our financial and nonprofit efficiency, preserving limited resources for ongoing digitization, preservation, and research. We are entirely volunteer-led, and all tours are conducted privately by the lead curator.
To book your visit book online here.
Q: Why Does It Cost $125 to Visit? Isn’t That High for a Museum?
A: The Couture Pattern Museum is privately funded and personally curated, with no public or institutional support. The visit fee reflects decades of independent research, collecting, preservation, and the founder’s ongoing work to maintain the museum's building and operations to be able to share this rare archive.
Each private visit offers guests meaningful access to historical materials that would otherwise remain inaccessible. The $125 research fee directly supports the museum’s continued preservation efforts.
Q: Can I contact the museum to discuss or negotiate the cost of a visit?
A: If you are unsure about the value of the experience, it may indicate that this opportunity is not right for you at this time, and we honor that without judgment. Access is reserved for guests who respect the uniqueness, time, energy, and integrity behind the museum.
Out of respect for the work, we kindly ask that prospective visitors refrain from contacting the museum solely to negotiate pricing. Our resources are dedicated to our conservation efforts and to our current dedicated members and visitors.
Q: Why don't you allow full pattern downloads?
A: The reason behind our decision is simple: our mission is not commercially driven. We prioritize the preservation, education, and protection of the rights of designers and pattern companies from potential exploitation. By restricting pattern downloads, we ensure that patterns are studied responsibly and for educational purposes only. Founding Members have scholarly educational access to the archives. Members are required to sign a no-duplication or resale contract before receiving educational materials.*
*For materials not created by the Couture Pattern Museum, permission will be granted by the Museum as the owner of the physical materials and does not imply permission for use by any copyright holder, any licensee, or any assignee of any property right therein. It is the responsibility of the researcher to obtain all necessary permissions from the copyright holder.
Q: Are you a 501(c)(3) organization?
A: The Couture Pattern Museum operates as a fiscally sponsored project of Creative Visions Foundation, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization.
Please note: memberships, event tickets, digitization sponsorships, gift shop purchases, and private visits are not tax-deductible, as they involve goods and services.
If you wish to contribute directly to our charitable work, you can donate online here, or mail a donation to:
Couture Pattern Museum
1525 State Street, Suite #301
Penthouse Floor
Santa Barbara, CA 93101
Contributions for the charitable purposes of the Couture Pattern Museum must be made payable to “Creative Visions” and are tax-deductible to the extent permitted by law.
Q: How can I become a Founding Member?
A: This is the only digital program currently available that allows scholarly access to the patterns for study and learning. Please visit this link for more information on becoming a Founding Member.
Q: What other institutions have patterns and how is CPM different?
Very few museums preserve original couture sewing patterns, and even fewer focus on them. Most major institutions collect finished garments, not the technical patterns behind them.
The Couture Pattern Museum is one of the only archives dedicated exclusively to preserving and studying couture sewing patterns as historical artifacts. These patterns offer rare insight into the hidden process of fashion-making. The authentic haute couture garments in our collection are used for study and education, allowing members and visitors a chance to learn and understand the technical craft of haute couture finishing and construction from the Golden Age of Couture.
By combining line-by-line pattern instruction with research into iconic garments from our collection, we offer a well-rounded, hands-on education that deepens our members’ understanding of design and construction, helping us to fulfill our mission to preserve and celebrate the savoir-faire of this fading art form.
Q: What makes your Museum unique?
A: The Couture Pattern Museum is the only founder-led archive devoted exclusively to preserving and studying couture sewing patterns as cultural heritage. It offers rare access to the hidden blueprints of historic design through a privately curated, independently funded collection.
Q: Can I visit your museum?
A: Yes, visits are available by advance appointment only. Appointments can be requested through our website, calling, or texting the museum. Availability is limited. Book an appointment online or call us at: 805-303-4775
Walk-ins and same-day requests cannot be accommodated unless approved.
Q: Where do you keep the collection?
A: After the Los Angeles, Malibu, and Pacific Palisades fires of 2025, we moved our digitized collection off-site to a secure, temperature-controlled facility outside of fire and tsunami zones. The physical patterns are carefully stored in acid-free archival materials to ensure their long-term preservation.
For more specific information regarding visiting the museum, appointments, or upcoming events, please visit our website or contact us directly through our contact page. We look forward to welcoming you to the Couture Pattern Museum and providing you with an enriching experience.