ITAA - KSCT Joint Symposium

Curating the Ephemeral: An Image Repository for Fashion Education and Research

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Abstract

Fashion design programs produce extensive professional imagery through fashion shows and photoshoots, yet these visual assets are often underutilized and inaccessible. This project develops a publicly accessible, annually expanding online repository to preserve and showcase student design work. Supported by a $2,000 grant, the initiative employs a graduate assistant and leverages institutional digital services for sustainable infrastructure. Guided by aesthetic theory (DeLong, 2000), material culture analysis (Prown, 1982), and semiotics (Luu & McKinney, 2020), the repository functions as both an archival resource and a platform for scholarly inquiry. Literature on curated exhibitions demonstrates significant pedagogical and professional benefits, informing the project’s emphasis on systematic curation and student engagement. Outcomes include enhanced teaching resources, historical documentation, interdisciplinary research potential, and strengthened industry outreach. By transforming ephemeral fashion events into an accessible digital archive, this project supports long-term academic value, reflective learning, and increased visibility for emerging designers.

Keywords: image repository, digital archives, material culture, ephemera

How to Cite:

Uriyo, A. & Moretz, C. A., (2025) “Curating the Ephemeral: An Image Repository for Fashion Education and Research”, International Textile and Apparel Association Annual Conference Proceedings 82(1). doi: https://doi.org/10.31274/itaa.22001