Worthing Theatres and Museum announce unique contemporary collecting project Cutting Edge

Worthing Theatres and Museum are seeking potential donations of high street or home made clothing from the 1980s, 1990s and 2000s to join the museum’s nationally recognised costume collection as part of a unique contemporary collecting project called Cutting Edge. 
 
Cutting Edge is a National Heritage Lottery Funded, year long collaboration that sees curators from WTM working with a group of students from Shoreham Academy to research, identify and source items that have had the greatest impact on fashion during the 1980s, 1990s and 2000s. 
 
This includes high street favourites such as Red or Dead, Benetton, Chelsea Girl, Freeman Hardy & Willis, C&A, Ben Sherman, Kangol, Tammy Girl, Warehouse and Diesel, to name a few. 
 
WTM's costume collection tells the story of everyday fashion and how it has changed over time. It reflects the clothing of real people - the average person on the street. At the moment the collection contains limited pieces from the 1980s and 1990s and almost nothing to represent the 2000s! Cutting Edge seeks to remedy this. 
 
The Cutting Edge team are asking for donations of clothing, accessories, footwear, hats and bags from these decades and the history associated with them - whether it's a photo of the piece being worn, or a story of how the owner came by it. We will select a number of donated garments to include in the costume collection. 
 
If you have an item you would like to be considered please complete the google form available on the WTM website, with as much detail as possible including photographs, and the Cutting Edge team will respond via email. 
 
Perhaps you have an outfit or item/s of clothing that you raved in at Sterns or The Haçienda; a fabulous dress and heels that you discoed in at Rutherfords or Liquid Lounge in the 2000s and photos of you wearing them, associated gig tickets, flyers and stories? If so, we want to hear from you! 
 
If you have a cherished piece from these decades gathering dust, we would love you to consider donating it for future generations to enjoy and study at our state of the art Costume Research Centre. 
 
The museum is closed during the Coronavirus lockdown, so please DO NOT bring or leave items outside as we cannot acquire anything without prior assessment. 
Find out more about the project and submit your items for consideration on their website at wtam.uk/stories/cutting-edge/.