In 3D! The fashion exhibition that explores technical craftsmanship at the Palais Galliera

Crafting clothes is an art in itself! The Palais Galliera is turning its spotlight on sewing techniques that add volume to our outfits, in an unusual exhibition to be unveiled from December 12, 2026 to October 17, 2027.

Ribbons and frills, epaulettes, drapery: a silhouette can be built in many ways. Designers play with these devices to create volume and transform the body. The Palais Galliera highlights these diverse techniques, and pays tribute to the different métiers of fashion with the exhibition In Volume!, running from December 12, 2026 to October 17, 2027.

At the Palais Galliera, we’re used to admiring silhouettes and haute couture creations as if they had just stepped off the runway. This time, we’re stepping to the other side of the barrier. We head to the workshops of the designers to glimpse the backstage craft and the origins of the garments.

The exhibition invites visitors to explore the steps involved in making a garment, from taking measurements to producing the muslin prototype and, in between, pattern-making. The route showcases several trades and crafts around textiles, wood, metal, pleating, and the creation of hats or shoes... All of these artisans contribute to the fashion world, each with their own techniques for shaping garments and accessories.

The Palais Galliera exhibition offers a view of clothing and silhouettes, but also of the tools and professional accessories it takes to work in the field.

Through this exhibition, the museum also tackles the question of the body and its diversity. Morphologies require different adaptations, with volumes placed differently on the silhouette. In haute couture, fashion design, and ready-to-wear, these silhouettes are conceived for distinct audiences. The image we have of bodies then shifts depending on the garments that are within our reach.

Finally, the display traces how fashion silhouettes have evolved with changing volumes. Across the eras, shapes are emphasized in different places: crinoline and bustles to widen the waistline, 1970s padded-shoulder jackets, cinched dresses and flared skirts of the 1950s... Each style has its own distinctive volume!

Fans of fashion and couture should uncover a wealth of design secrets in this Palais Galliera exhibition, set to open in winter 2026.