Museums of Burlington

Eileen Collard (1912-2002) was instrumental in founding the costume collection at the Joseph Brant Museum. She was a couturier, costume collector and author. Eileen and her husband, James Collard, came to Canada from England in 1948. They first moved to Hamilton before settling in Burlington. Mrs. Collard studied in the fashion houses of London, England and brought this experience to Burlington and Hamilton, where she opened the Collard School of Fashion Design (1960-68) and became involved with the Fashion Arts Group. Mrs. Collard taught at Mohawk College and was instrumental in establishing the Costume Society of Ontario in 1970. She developed the costume collection at Joseph Brant Museum where she was the guest curator from 1966-72.

The fashion of the 1920s is possibly the most recognized trait of that time. After World War I, women emerged with a new-found freedom and attitude. Gone were the constricting and elaborate fashions of the earlier Victorian and Edwardian periods. Fashion became almost shapeless, with the simplicity of the dress offset by the use of accessories such as boas, beadwork and jewellery.

Social and cultural changes were occurring at the same time, such as the women's rights movement, the jazz era and the influence of Black Culture, as well as the perceived rapid rise in technology. Taken against the backdrop of the art deco movement and its influence on architecture, art and fashion, the 1920s has become one the most stereotyped of all decades, often without a real sense of the underlying conditions which existed during that time.

Opened August 1, 2010. For more information, please contact Paul or Brianne at (905) 634-3556.