Sage Collection

The Sage Collection at IU

What we wear is a vehicle for personal expression, a reflection of society, and a form of art. The Sage Collection at Indiana University includes clothing, accessories, and related items from the past and present—bringing our social history to life.

Overseen by the Eskenazi School of Art, Architecture + Design, the Sage Collection serves as a resource for students, professionals, and the public. Its museum-quality collection spans more than 250 years and includes a hands-on study collection used in classrooms and fashion design studios.

See all Sage exhibitions + events

Just a sample of the more than 28,000+ objects housed in the Sage Collection include:

Haute couture
Military, occupational, and sports uniforms
Senior Cords, Indiana’s unique expression of school pride
Ensembles designed by noted European and American designers including Hoosier natives Bill Blass, Halston, and Norman Norell
Fashion publications, DVDs, and videotapes

View a portion of the holdings

Fashion + research

Our staff and students are always working to expand existing knowledge on collection artifacts. Current ongoing research includes:

An 1879 IU graduation dress and the campaign wardrobe of Hillary Clinton by Fashion Design Lecturer Lori Frye
Signs and symbolism of Indiana Senior cords by Graduate Student and Merchandising Instructor Rachel Rose
Cheney Silks’ Croquis de la Mode Nouvelle fashion illustrations by Director and Curator Kelly Richardson

Research appointments are available to those interested in studying specific costume and textile objects. To schedule a research appointment, contact Kelly Richardson.

Elizabeth Sage

The Sage Collection’s namesake, Elizabeth Sage, arrived at Indiana University in 1913 as the first professor of clothing and textiles. During her teaching career at IU, Ms. Sage accumulated clothing and textile samples for use in her classroom, and then donated those teaching materials to the department upon her retirement in 1937.

Sage Collection Staff

Kelly Richardson, Director and Curator
Emily Rosolowski, Collections Assistant

Connect with us

Interested in working with the Sage Collection while at IU?

Students can earn credit by taking F402: Collections Management for Historic Costume and Textiles or X476: Practicum at the Sage Collection. Student and community volunteers are always welcome.

For details, contact Kelly Richardson.