THE Hunt Museum has launched a crowdfunding campaign to pay a professional textile conservator to repair and conserve 13 of the garments from its Sybil Connolly Collection.
The collection, which features some iconic creations by the world renowned Irish fashion designer, is a hugely popular element of the museum’s Education and Outreach Programmes.
This has inevitably led to some wear and tear over the years and the cost for repairs is nearly €25,000.
Sybil Connolly was well known for creating haute couture from Irish textiles including delicate crochet lace and durable Irish tweed. Famous clients included America’s First Lady, Jackie Kennedy Onassis and actress Julie Andrews. Many of her designs featured in fashion magazines such as Vogue and Harper’s Bazaar in the 1950s.
Hunt Museum Director and chief executive Jill Cousins said they were hoping to raise €12,500 through crowdfunding which will then be matched by the Gertrude Hunt Conservation Fund. The rewards include a special edition mug from Nicholas Mosse, based on a Sybil Connolly design and a limited edition print of one of her original sketches.
“Our ‘Fund a Cobble’ campaign was really successful and resulted in the lovely Museum in a Garden at the back of the museum, so we are hoping for a similar response to this latest initiative,” she added.
