Preservation conditions and Environment

Textile is a very fragile organic material. The preservation state of each works is very changeable. This state depends on the nature and the quality of costume's materials, and its route of its creation to today, its "personal experience". It's the same for different material of fashion accessories.

The causes of damage are multiple:

• Light: it may contribute to fading or discoloration, but of more concern is the damage which the fibers may suffer under prolonged exposure to non-visible light, such as ultraviolet and infrared lighting. So we should limit the intensity of natural and electric light, and exhibit duration to this light (max 50Lux during 4-5 months)
• Heat and humidity: a lot of humidity create moisture, a lot of heat weaken fibers. temperature and humidity should be kept as constant as possible: ideally between 18° and 21° and relative humidity of 50%
• Dust and dirt
• Pest: Among the most common are clothes moths, carpet beetles, silverfish, firebrats and rodents. They cause damage to fibres. For insects, keeping clean storage, display and work environment is the best method of prevention. The insect may be killed through freezing of the object.
• Handling and packaging: textiles should be handled with care. We should wear clean cloth gloves when handling textiles.

To ensure the continued existence of works, several actions are set up for the preventive conservation:

• Watch of climatic condition of the building
• Reconditioning of costumes and accessories (padded coat hanger for hanging costumes)
• Creation of specific support for flat costumes and for accessories (hat, mask, or shoes)
• Take into account fragility of textile works
• Use material adapted to their preservation
• Confinement of material witch risk to damage their neighbour
• Costumes dust removal
• Minimize handling
• Transport

The preventive conservation should ensure the continued existence of work and the integrity of works by protecting them from natural or accidental damages.

We take on causes rather than effects of the damage. It's about indirect actions on the collection.