4 surprising objects from the MoMu Library collection

The misconstrued idea that a library is dusty, boring and old could not be more wrong when it comes down to our MoMu Library. With more than 15.000 books about fashion, costume and textile, MoMu Library houses a large collection. But the collection is more than just books. Here are 4 surprising objects from our MoMu Library collection.

What is a fashion library without lookbooks? MoMu library aims to collect lookbooks from both Belgian and international designers. Giving us visual information of specific collections, lookbooks are very useful for research. A perfect example are these rare Comme des Garçons lookbooks from 1985 and 1986 that the library recently acquired. Japanese fashion was an important source of inspiration for Belgian designers. By adding this to the collection, visitors get a better understanding of Belgian fashion in the early days.

While our library collection policy is to collect books, journals, archives, documentation and study objects, this Dries Van Noten Chocolate Bar is quite the odd one out. Gifted to us as a New Year’s card, the library faces a challenge trying to store this chocolate bar as it can attract pest or start to mold. To avoid this, the chocolate bar is preserved in an oxygen-free conservation package.

Thanks to generous donors, our library is lucky enough to have accumulated invitations of runway shows. Some of the invitations date back to the 80s. One of our favourites: this hand-painted invitation for Martin Margiela’s SS1990 collection. The show was staged on a kids’ playground. Margiela’s team had the idea to have the invitations drawn by kids, so it was like they were inviting the audience to their place. The result? 500 hand-drawn invitations on rectangular pieces of cardboard, each with a unique design!

With magazines dating back to 18^th century, historical magazines form an important part of the library collection. La Mode Illustrée was one of the most important French magazines of the late nineteenth century that carried on well into the twentieth century. With illustrations and descriptions of Victorian attires and accessories, anyone conducting research on this topic will definitely find more than enough in our library!

During the renovations our MoMu Library has been temporarily relocated to DIVA (Suikerrui 17/19). Find us on the 4^th floor every Thursday and Friday from 10am – 12pm & 1pm – 5pm, and Saturday (1^st and 3^rd Saturday of the month) from 10am – 1pm. Can’t make it during the opening hours? No worries because MoMu Library also accepts appointments on Monday and Tuesday!