Where History, Craft, and Couture Come to Life
Welcome to the Couture Pattern Museum, the only dedicated fashion museum on the Central Coast of California, located on the border of the Arts District in Santa Barbara. Nestled at 1525 State Street, we are an innovative, one-of-a-kind, intimate museum dedicated to preserving the history, craft, and untold stories of haute couture and Hollywood costume design. The Couture Pattern Museum is unlike anything else in the world. We house an extraordinary collection of rare couture patterns, original designs, and costume pieces from legendary designers who have shaped fashion history.
A Hidden Gem with Global Impact
Although we may be small in size, our museum’s impact reaches far beyond our walls. We serve as a global resource for fashion enthusiasts, historians, university instructors, students, and designers alike. Our carefully curated collection showcases the craftsmanship behind some of the most iconic pieces in fashion and Hollywood, giving you exclusive access to stories and techniques that can’t be found anywhere else.
As a participatory museum, we invite you to experience the collection through rotating special exhibitions, and through our unique educational programs and digital member forums. Outside of special exhibitions, we offer private one-on-one visits to explore our current rotating collection. Book your appointment online to experience the museum in an intimate setting or by calling 805-303-4775.
Storytelling & Exhibiting the Museum's Collection in Santa Barbara
At the Couture Pattern Museum, we preserve the remarkable "know-how" of haute couture by focusing on historical patterns. To validate the cultural and historical significance of our archive, we showcase both original and reconstructed costumes created by haute couture ateliers, professional seamstresses, Hollywood costume designers, as well as our museum members and students. Many of the patterns in our collection may be the last remaining copies in existence, offering a rare opportunity to study and appreciate the artistry and technical brilliance of couture design and construction.
We’ve introduced an innovative perspective to fashion conservation by emphasizing the preservation of couture patterns. These blueprints allow garments to be endlessly studied and reimagined. Our members and students bring this concept to life, demonstrating that patterns are not only valuable resources but also central to preserving fashion heritage for future generations.
Support Us: Small museums like ours are often overlooked and struggle to stay open despite their cultural value. We rely on community support to continue preserving unique collections and stories of craftsmanship and democratization. You can help by becoming a community support member for just $5 a month, by donating to our digitization and exhibition projects through our fiscal sponsor, Creative Visions, or visiting us in person. Your contribution is crucial to preserving fashion history for future generations.
Upcoming Events
Tue, Nov 12The University Club of Santa BarbaraNov 12, 2024, 5:00 PM – 8:00 PM PSTThe University Club of Santa Barbara, 1332 Santa Barbara St, Santa Barbara, CA 93101, USANov 12, 2024, 5:00 PM – 8:00 PM PSTThe University Club of Santa Barbara, 1332 Santa Barbara St, Santa Barbara, CA 93101, USAJoin us for an unforgettable evening with special guest, Maria Kublin—author, curator, and daughter of famed fashion photographer Tom Kublin and supermodel Katinka Bleeker (Miss Holland, 1955)—as she presents her new book, Balenciaga - Kublin: A Fashion Record, published by Thames & Hudson
Why Patterns Matter:
At the Couture Pattern Museum, we believe patterns are more than just blueprints for garments—they are invaluable educational tools that preserve centuries of craftsmanship. As the luxury fashion industry becomes more exclusive, and top Parisian fashion schools are inaccessible to many, fewer artisans are trained in these specialized techniques, putting this cultural knowledge at risk of being lost forever. Our mission is to safeguard this heritage by preserving haute couture patterns and making them accessible for study and reconstruction.
Unlike traditional costume museums that focus solely on preserving garments and cloth, we emphasize on preserving the information and techniques embedded within the patterns. These documents are vital for understanding historical costume design, advanced pattern cutting, detailed hand-finishing, and complex construction methods passed down through generations. By preserving and sharing educational access to historically important documented designs, we ensure the legacy of hand craftsmanship remains alive and accessible for future generations. This distinction sets our mission apart because the inherent fragility of fabrics has made museums hesitant to lend their collections for educational purposes, making the study of historical haute couture garments increasingly inaccessible.
As a heritage museum, we serve as an educational hub where members can deeply engage with culture and history by retracing the steps of master couturiers. Through studying these patterns and reconstructing historical costumes, members gain hands-on experience with the techniques that define couture, promoting the art of craftsmanship and connecting modern creators with time-honored skills.
By preserving these historical patterns, we also act as a cultural bridge, celebrating the achievements that have shaped the fashion industries of France and the United States. Our collection chronicles fashion history while fostering a rich cultural dialogue that intertwines high fashion with dressmaking.
Become a Founding Member today and join us in preserving this rich heritage for generations to come. Founding Members of the museum have access to the archives to order research and educational material for study and reconstruction.
Savoir-Faire: Safeguarding Cultural Heritage and Preservation of Haute Couture Know-How
Join Our Community
Upholders of Couture
5$Every monthCommunity Support Plan for $5/mo. Couture Forum & View Database (Pattern downloads not included)- Couture Forum, an online community to share, discuss & learn
- Ability to view the Database for Research & Inspiration
- *(Does not include pattern downloads)
- Couture Forum Access on iOS & Android
- Access to Select Atelier Blog Posts
- Cancel Anytime
- Best Value
Founding Member Annual Pass
299$Every yearOne year annual pass- Best Value, Full Access to the Museum Archive and Groups*
- Educational patterns invoiced separately + shipping
- Average cost of educational material: $100 - $250 + shipping
- *No digital pattern downloads in the database, ship only
- Industry Couture Techniques & Discussion in Founders Circle
- Scholarly Access to Pattern Database: Education & Research
- Includes access to our premium content library
- Complimentary Annual Visit to the Museum in SB: $125 Value
- Atelier Blog: Learn how each dress is made
- All Online Courses & Online Seminars
- 20% off Couture Mentoring Program, $140 Value
- Chance to Exhibit Your Work in a Santa Barbara Exhibition
- Complimentary Couture Forum on iOS & Android
- **No refunds**
Innovative & Forward Thinking: Learn More About CPM on TV Santa Barbara
Help us with Conservation & Digitization
Sponsor a Pattern to Digitize
95$Your Name Displayed Next to the Pattern in the Museum DatabaseValid for one year- Your name displayed next to the pattern in database
- One year access to the database for research and inspiration
- (Digital downloads not included)
- Social Media and Newsletter Acknowledgment
- Access to Complimentary Couture Forum on iOS & Android
- Great Corporate or Gift Idea!
The Urgency and Importance of Preserving Historical Couture Patterns: Our Mission
Very few haute couture houses have maintained archives of their significant designs, and many of these once-prominent houses no longer exist. The only remnants of their legacy often lie in the patterns they released. Furthermore, pattern publishers typically did not retain copies, records, or contracts of the patterns they issued.
Our museum's mission is critical: to safeguard and digitize these invaluable paper patterns before the delicate tissue paper and accompanying instructions deteriorate, ensuring their preservation as they risk fading from our collective memory.
Unlike other museums that hold paper pattern archives, ours specializes in haute couture patterns from the golden age of couture, a period when fashion significantly influenced the social and cultural domain. The stories of democratization within fashion, pivotal during this era, are often overlooked in other collections, due to their vast collections. These collections also tend to be less accessible, typically not providing complete digitization of both the front and back of pattern envelopes. The pattern schematics in these archives are often derived from rough illustrations on the backs of envelopes, and they lack accuracy and do not include detailed instructions.
Addressing these gaps, we are committed to a rigorous process, investing in and utilizing specialized equipment and undertaking the intense labor required to digitize entire patterns in full. This effort ensures every detail is preserved, making our collection a complete repository and an active, educational resource dedicated to the meticulous documentation of haute couture’s rich history.
Meet the Directors at CPM
Digitizing & Reviving the Museum's Collection
The Couture Pattern Museum is undertaking a monumental project to digitize our vast collection of haute couture sewing patterns. Holding some of the rarest physical copies from the world's most celebrated haute couture designers, including items of historical significance like the Coronation robe and frock blessed by Queen Elizabeth II, we recognize the importance of preserving these treasures for future generations. We extend our heartfelt gratitude to our members and supporters, who play a crucial role in advancing our mission.
Make an Impact: Join the Couture Council. Influence Santa Barbara Arts & Culture
Couture Council of Santa Barbara
5,000$Every yearMaximum Benefits with Influential Role- Influential Member to help fund exhibitions and programming
- Funds the conservation of the collection
- Exclusive, unlimited behind the scene tours. Guests are free
- Includes access to the database
- Access to patterns and educational research, 10 patterns
- Inclusion in the Founders Circle as a Founding Member
- Includes all online classes, workshops, and events
- Free bi-annual lunch with the directors at University Club
- Unlimited visits to the Museum in Santa Barbara
- Your name next to a pattern in the database as sponsor
- Recognition on website, in exhibitions, and events
- Annual subscription, renews annual until canceled
A Commitment to Education:
Visit Us in Santa Barbara, CA
By Appt. Only
The Couture Pattern Museum's address is: 1525 State Street, Ste. 301, Santa Barbara, CA 93101
We are located on the penthouse floor, the only commercial on the third floor. There's street parking nearby, no covered parking available. We do our free pop-up exhibits in the community at the Tower Event Space at Paseo Nuevo Mall, to be able to serve hundreds of visitors in a short period of time. We look forward to welcoming you either in our location or out in the community.