While the Texas Fashion Collection's facilities do not include dedicated exhibition space, the TFC has organized numerous exhibitions and regularly facilitates artifact loans to cultural institutions worldwide. Past and current partnerships have resulted in several robust displays relating to design and social history. Dress objects represented range from international cultural dress to French haute couture to American ready-to-wear — and have been organized in traditional museum spaces and unconventional public venues. 

If your institution is interested in borrowing artifacts for an exhibition in a conservationally stable and secure location, please contact Annette Becker, TFC director.

Be sure to visit our past exhibitions and events, too!

Texas Fashion Collection presents "Labor of Luxury" at NorthPark Center, Dallas

April 8, 2024 — Shimmering sequins, dense beads, and delicate embroidery transform quotidian garments into extraordinary works of art. While many Euro-American luxury designers have developed followings based on these sophisticated techniques, few people realize most fashion surface design is executed in another part of the world: India.

The Texas Fashion Collection presents "Labor of Luxury: The Art of Embroidery from India to the World," which will be displayed at NorthPark Center in Dallas from April 8 through May 19. The exhibition is free to the public and accessible during NorthPark’s open hours. It can be viewed near Nordstrom Court on the west wing of the Center.

Labor of Luxury features fifteen designs drawn from the permanent collection of the Texas Fashion Collection, an archive of nearly 20,000 garments and accessories housed within the College of Visual Arts and Design at the University of North Texas in Denton. These high fashion garments offer opportunities to reconsider the histories of work by designers Mary McFadden, Zandra Rhodes, Halston, Todd Oldham, and Dries Van Noten – all designers whose highly embellished garments relied on the expertise of Indian artisans for their production. The exhibition also highlights Indian designers who engage with their cultural heritage to craft garments with global appeal.  Featured Indian designers include Naeem Khan, ASHISH, Manish Arora, and the brand Papa Don’t Preach.

The exhibition was curated by Annette Becker, TFC director, with support from Ailie Pankonien, TFC collection manager, and students Anna Smith, Annie Puga, Collin Farley, Gabby Goldstein, Jarryd Lara and Isabel Saldivar.

A second iteration of this exhibition will be on view in the UNT College of Visual Arts and Design Gallery from Oct. 1 through Feb. 1, 2025.  Further information is forthcoming.

Exhibition Dates, Hours, and Location
April 8–May 19, 2024
For NorthPark Center hours, see the NorthPark Center's Visit web page.
Address: 8687 N Central Expressway, Dallas, TX 75225
Location: Near Nordstrom Court, on the west side of NorthPark Center