The Seneca Fashion Resource Centre is accepting donations. We are actively seeking donations that fill critical gaps in the collection. These include fashion items connected to people of colour, our First Nations history, LGBTQ+, and adaptions for those living with a disability, items connected to key events in Canadian History or that reflect ways of life in Canada. If you have a donation that can help fill some of these gaps or you think may interest students studying fashion design and business, please contact Tarah Burke at tarah.burke@senecapolytechnic.ca to arrange a meeting.
Seneca’s Fashion Resource Centre has, since 1989, collected what Canadians have worn. The purpose of the collection is to provide a resource centre rather than a museum so that those who study fashion may do so in a unique way. The examination of items worn by men, women and children from the past provides awe-inspiring insight and information for all students of fashion.
The Centre was established through the dedication of many faculty in the School of Fashion, including Claire Becker, Caroline Routh, Bev Newburg and Dale Peers. It has been supported by the faculty within the School of Fashion and utilized by not only students and faculty of the multi-disciplined programs within the school but also by other departments across the College and visiting researchers. Professor Dale Peers (emeritus 2020), the former Costume Coordinator, has been actively involved with the collection since its inception. Her focus was on the care and preservation of the collection as well as finding ways to bring this unique method of appreciating and studying fashion to as many people as possible.
Professor Tarah Burke currently oversees the collection. Tarah is a professor at the School of Fashion, teaching in the Fashion Arts, Fashion Business, Fashion Business Management and Fashion Studies programs. Tarah brings to the Fashion Resource Center 20+ years of experience in the Canadian Fashion, Film and Television industries and a commitment to grow and diversify the artifacts preserved and available to support student learning opportunities at Seneca.