The Institute for Modern Dress was established to explore the relationship between clothing, culture, and identity in the modern world. We study how garments function as both design and language, tracing how materials, silhouettes, and craftsmanship reflect the values of the time they were created in.

Our work sits between fashion, design, and anthropology. Each project examines how the act of dressing shapes the way people move, think, and communicate. We focus on the spaces where everyday wear meets conceptual design, observing how comfort and form evolve alongside social and technological change.

The Institute operates as both an archive and a research platform. We publish findings, develop studies, and host dialogues that aim to deepen the public’s understanding of clothing as a cultural artifact. Every piece of research seeks to clarify the balance between functionality and expression, between what is worn and what is felt.

Our research areas include material innovation, cultural observation, design theory, and historical preservation. Through these efforts, The Institute for Modern Dress aims to document the ongoing story of how people dress, and why it matters.