Weaving, embroidering, sublimating: fashion know-how on show at the heart of the Palais Galliera

Following on from La Mode en mouvement, the Palais Galliera presents a new series of exhibitions dedicated to fashion know-how. The museum's exceptional collections will once again take center stage, offering visitors a new perspective on the history of fashion from the 18th century to the present day. We start with the know-how of ornamentation, from December 13, 2025 to October 18, 2026.

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This opening section highlights the array of techniques used to enhance and decorate garments and accessories. Through weaving, embroidery, dyeing, printing, lace, and passementerie, visitors explore the richness of ornamental craftsmanship that has shaped Paris's fashion scene. These skills have cemented the city’s reputation as a hub for exquisite artisanship, from the embroidered textiles of an 18th-century waistcoat to laser-printed ensembles by Balenciaga, from Chantilly lace to Gabrielle Chanel’s signature camellia.

These techniques will primarily be explored through the lens of floral decoration. The flower, a motif seen throughout decorative arts, has also been endlessly reimagined in textiles and fashion from the 18th century to the present day.

Home to over 350 works — including clothing, accessories, photographs, graphic arts, samples, and tools — the exhibition offers a comprehensive look at the fashion world. It showcases pieces from both renowned haute couture houses and emerging designers, with some created specifically for this event, such as works by Lesage, Hurel, Baqué Molinié, and Aurélia Leblanc.

Not to overlook the hidden craftsmen, the unsung heroes often overlooked but vital to the fashion industry. This is a chance to spotlight lesser-known professions such as textile designer, embroiderer, feather artisan, and floral stylist. Samples of textiles and tables equipped with magnifying glasses invite visitors to observe closely, examine, and appreciate the intricate work behind each creation, revealing the complexity of the craftsmanship involved.

From the moment they step inside, visitors are transported to the behind-the-scenes of creation in the Technique Gallery: here, displays of costumes, shoes, and bags highlight various crafts such as embroidery, dyeing, and weaving, all centered around the floral theme. The intentionally dim lighting emphasizes the vibrant colors of the pieces, producing a striking and visually appealing contrast.

Next, we move to the Gallery of Trades, which focuses more on objects, tools, and intricate details to give visitors a tangible understanding of how these pieces come to life, bringing fashion closer and making it easier to grasp from within.

In reality, although the exhibition highlights craftsmanship, it feels more like a fashion showcase than a technical demonstration: visitors are greeted by an impressive array of dresses—much more than one might expect from the title—and the focus is primarily on the final look rather than the process of creation.

This exhibit adopts a perspective focused primarily on finished creations rather than the creative process itself, although a few tactile stations let visitors feel samples of different materials related to the themes on display. The journey is also designed to be family-friendly: a dedicated kids’ area offers activities such as making paper flowers with origami, adding a playful touch to the floral motif of the exhibition.