Frequently Asked Questions

What is The People's Archive of Costume?

PAC is an online archive for the history of costume and dress. It provides free access to pictures and details about antique and vintage garments owned by regular people. It aims to make privately held costume collections accessible to researchers, students, and anyone interested in fashion history.

What are the benefits of adding an item to the archive?

Adding your garments to the archive creates a permanent digital record, ensuring they are documented for future generations. It also connects your collection with a wider community of costume enthusiasts and researchers.

How do I know if my garment is significant enough?

All garments have significance. Items don't need to have been the height of fashion, of the best quality, or in great condition. The bigger the archive, the more useful it becomes as a research resource.

Who can contribute?

Anyone who owns antique or vintage garments can register as a collector and add their items to the archive. You don't need to be a professional — our cataloguing system is designed to be accessible to all.

Is there a cost to use PAC?

No. PAC is completely free to use, both for collectors adding garments and for visitors browsing the archive.

How do I photograph my garments?

We provide detailed photography guidance to help you capture your garments effectively. You don't need a fancy camera, or even a mannequin — a smartphone with good lighting can produce excellent results.

What information do I need to provide?

Each garment entry includes a title, date range, physical description, construction details (sewing method, fastenings, etc.), and photographs. Only the title is mandatory — you can add as much or as little detail as you wish. The more you can fill in the better, but we would still much rather have just the basics than nothing at all.

How many garments can I add?

As many as you like!

Can I add a hat, shoes, or jewellery?

Currently PAC focuses on clothing only. We hope to expand to include accessories in the future.

Can I control who sees my garments?

You can save garments as drafts (visible only to you) and publish them when ready. You also control whether visitors can contact you about specific garments.

Will I have to show people the actual garment?

No. PAC is an online database. Your ownership details and location can be withheld for security.

Is the archive available for private study?

All items in the archive are held by separate individuals, so whether they are open to being studied is at their own discretion. Whenever a garment is added, the collector has the option to allow viewers to contact them. If you wish to enquire about seeing an item, click the 'Contact Collector' button on that item's page. If this button does not appear, the collector does not wish to be contacted.

What are copyright levels?

When you publish a garment, you choose a copyright level that determines how your photographs and descriptions may be used by others:

1. Public Domain — images and information may be used for any purpose without crediting the source.
2. Credit required — may be used for any purpose as long as they are fully and appropriately credited.
3. Academic/non-profit — may be used for non-profit and academic purposes with full credit. For commercial use, please contact the collector directly.
4. All rights reserved — images and information may not be reproduced without permission.

How are garments numbered?

Each published garment receives a unique object number (e.g., G001, G002) that serves as a permanent identifier in the archive.

Can I edit or remove my garments?

Yes. You can edit your garment entries at any time. You can also unpublish or delete garments if you no longer wish them to be in the archive.