REEVALUATE: Art Deco Evening Dress Dazzles in 3D

How do you preserve fashion heritage that can no longer be physically displayed? As part of the European research project REEVALUATE, MoMu brings a fragile Art Deco evening dress from the 1920s back to life in digital form. Through 3D technology and a downloadable sewing pattern, this archival piece is given a second life.

REEVALUATE, part of the Horizon Europe programme, explores how digital cultural heritage can be reused in innovative ways. MoMu contributes by using its study collection to develop scenarios that make fashion accessible beyond the physical limitations of the archive.

For this project, an Art Deco evening dress from the late 1920s was selected. Made of silk and richly embroidered with sequins, the dress was designed for festive occasions. Due to its fragile condition, the piece can only be stored flat and can no longer be displayed on a mannequin. To make the design visible again, MoMu conducted an in-depth study of its pattern and materials. In collaboration with d_archive, a 3D model and animation were created, bringing the dress to life digitally. Additionally, MoMu partnered with Fibre Mood to develop a sewing pattern, allowing enthusiasts to create their own contemporary interpretation of the ‘Mildred’ dress.

The dress reflects the aesthetics and social changes of its time. Its straight, fluid silhouette without boning emphasizes freedom of movement, a result of women’s changing lives after World War I. The sequins, shimmering under nightclub lights, evoke a new sense of modernity and luxury. The zigzag motif across the front and back panels draws inspiration from Egyptian imagery and is a hallmark of the Art Deco style.

Through this digital reconstruction, MoMu demonstrates how heritage can not only be preserved but reinvented. The project illustrates a future where fashion collections are experienced in innovative ways.

The sewing pattern for the ‘Mildred’ dress is available at the MoMu Shop and via Fibre Mood.