Spanning four centuries, the V&A’s Fashion collection is the largest and most comprehensive collection of dress in the world. Key items in the collection include rare 17th-century gowns, 18th-century ‘mantua’ dresses, 1930s eveningwear, 1960s daywear and post-war couture. Plus a growing number of pieces from 21st-century designers.
Since: 1840’s (dress first collected); 1957 (1st fashion curator appointed)
Size: 14,000 + accessories
Yearly visitors: 3,230,700
Staff: Christopher Wilk (Furniture, Textiles & Fashion Keeper); Edwina Ehrman (Curator of Textiles and Fashion); Lesley Miller (Senior Curator – Textiles); Oriole Cullin (Curator)