The Kent State University Museum, the Cleveland Museum of Natural History, and the Kent State School of Fashion will open “Fashion & Feather,” a cross-disciplinary exhibition, on Earth Day, April 22. The show runs through October 16 at the Cleveland Museum of Natural History and examines the cultural and ecological significance of feathers through historic garments, ornithological specimens, and original student designs.

Organized by bird species — including peacock, ostrich, kingfisher, and rooster — the exhibition pairs taxidermy mounts and cultural objects from the natural history museum’s research collections with feather-adorned garments and accessories from Kent State University Museum’s historic fashion holdings. The exhibition grew from “For the Birds,” a 2018 show at the Kent State University Museum. Students in the Kent State School of Fashion designed biomimicry-inspired garments entirely without bird feathers, responding to questions of sustainability and conservation; those works will be displayed in the museum’s Corning Gallery. A student fashion show is planned for fall 2026.

“Feathers show us that nature is the original designer,” said Sonia Winner, president and CEO of the Cleveland Museum of Natural History. “By activating our extraordinary collections in new ways, ‘Fashion & Feather’ invites audiences to see biodiversity from a fresh perspective.” The exhibition is curated by Dr. Sara Hume of Kent State in partnership with the natural history museum’s collections team. Part of the exhibition is located in the museum’s Visitor Hall, which is free to the public; the Corning Gallery portion requires general admission. The show is supported in part by the Ohio Arts Council.

Source: Cleveland Museum of Natural History