Kimono
Discover the rich symbolism in traditional Japanese dress
Textiles
The V&A holds the national collection of textiles and fashion, which includes more than 75,000 individual objects or sets of objects that span a period of more than 5,000 years, from Predynastic Egypt to the present day.
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Almost all textile techniques are represented in our collections, including woven, printed and embroidered textiles, lace, tapestries and carpets. Among the particularly rich areas are early woven silks from the Near East, European and Chinese tapestries, English medieval embroidery (opus anglicanum), Safavid carpets, Indian textiles, and Arts and Crafts textiles.
Collection highlights
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Banner, 600 – 900 AD, Dunhuang, China, pattern and plain woven silk, wood and paint -
Cravat, jumper, designed by Elsa Schiaparelli, 1927, France. -
The Bullerswood Carpet, designed by William Morris and John Henry Dearle, 1889, London, England -
Animals by the Watering Hole, tapestry, by 'Ali Salim, 1985, Egypt -
Embroidered casket, made by Martha Edlin, 1671, England -
Ensemble, unknown, early 19th century, India
Features
Post-war textiles
Chart the progression of post-war textile design, from wartime utility to atomic-era patterns, abstract art, psychedelia and nostalgic florals
Indian textiles
India's handmade textiles are embedded in every aspect of its identity.
Althea McNish – an introduction
Discover how Althea McNish's tropical textile designs changed the character of British Modernism
Lucienne Day – an introduction
Of all the talented women textile designers of post-war Britain, Lucienne Day's influence is the most far-reaching
Àdìrẹ – 'tied and dyed' indigo textiles
Discover a hugely popular African textile tradition
Traditional Mexican dress
Discover the flamboyant styles of indigenous Mexican dress favoured by Frida Kahlo
The Devonshire Hunting Tapestries
Four large and beautifully designed tapestries depicting the 15th century hunt of boars, bears, swans, otters, deer and falconry
The making of medieval embroidery
See the traditional embroidery techniques used to create masterpieces of opus anglicanum
The conservation of the Bullerswood Carpet
Find out how we look after the enormous, hand-knotted Bullerswood Carpet, designed by William Morris
Sew your own: Mexican-style huipil
Sew your own colourful version of the traditional Mexican tunic worn by Frida Kahlo
Linen – the original sustainable material
Used by Ancient Egyptians as an expression of class and still popular today, linen is the original sustainable fabric. Find out how it's made
An A–Z of Opus Anglicanum
Do you know your cope from your chasuble, your split stitch from your satin stitch?
James Merry on Opus Anglicanum
Contemporary embroidery artist James Merry takes a closer look at surviving masterpieces of English medieval embroidery
Conservation of an Indian jama
Find out how our conservation team have repaired this intricately embellished piece
Golden spider silk
Discover how the world's largest pieces of spider silk cloth were made
Design and make a talking textile
Learn about some of Africa's 'talking textiles' and have a go at making your own!
In search of forgotten colours – Sachio Yoshioka and the art of natural dyeing
Step inside the dye workshop
Cloth of a continent: Africa Fashion
Discover more about African cloth types through our collections
Costume conservation: My Fair Lady
From rags to riches, follow the transformation of an iconic piece of musical theatre history
