Textile Museum of Canada

Textile Museum of Canada Inspiring understanding of the human experience through textiles. Open Wednesday - Sunday, 12 PM - 5 PM.
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'Always In Fashion,' guest curated by Amber-Dawn Bear Robe and currently on view, celebrates Indigenous fashion designer...
06/09/2026

'Always In Fashion,' guest curated by Amber-Dawn Bear Robe and currently on view, celebrates Indigenous fashion designers who are reclaiming cultural narratives, innovating with ancestral techniques, and challenging colonial frameworks within fashion. Inspired by this exhibition, we're pleased to offer beginner-friendly workshops that explore its themes, techniques, and materials.

🪡 Join us for:
JUNE 27 | Intro to Beadwork with Margaret Firlotte
JULY 4 | Sweetgrass Medicine Mist Workshop with Tanya Gluvakov
AUGUST 29 | Beading with the Land with Raechel Wastesicoot
SEPTEMBER 26 | Intro to Cornhusk Dolls with Elizabeth Doxtater

🎟️ All workshops are free for Indigenous persons, or $40 general / $30 for Textile Museum members. Learn more and register by visiting: https://buff.ly/HFcm9gY

The Textile Museum of Canada would like to extend our thanks to TD Bank Group for their support of these programs through TD Ready Commitment.

📷 COVER IMAGE: People of the Water skirt, 2025. Rebecca Baker-Grenier. Currently on view as part of 'Always In Fashion.'

June programs are now open for registration! Join us for embroidery pin making, collections tours, crochet, beading work...
06/02/2026

June programs are now open for registration! Join us for embroidery pin making, collections tours, crochet, beading workshops and more. Visit our website to learn more and register: https://buff.ly/W0P91eb

IMAGES:
1. Maker once known. Huipil (blouse). San Pedro Sacatepéquez, Guatemala. 20th Century. 31 cm x 31 cm. cotton; woven. Gift of Joan VanDuzer. T2012.33.2
2. Maker once known. Border fragment. Uzbekistan. Mid 20th century. 54 cm x 28 cm. cotton; silk; plain woven, embroidered. Gift of Michael Bazinet. T83.0038a-b.
3.Maker once known. Skirt border. Maranao. Philippines. Early 20th century, 152 cm x 11 cm. silk; hand woven. From the Opekar / Webster Collection. T94.1218
4. Maker once known. Moccasin Panel, Woodland Cree. Late 19th Century. 5 cm x 28 cm. Deer skin; glass bead. Gift of Thomas Kalman. T81.0064a-c

One of the oldest forms of embroidery in South Asia, kantha is a style of flat quilting practiced mainly in present-day ...
05/27/2026

One of the oldest forms of embroidery in South Asia, kantha is a style of flat quilting practiced mainly in present-day West Bengal, India and Bangladesh. The term "kantha" refers both to the running stitch and to the finished cloth itself. Traditionally made by rural women for domestic use, these textiles were created by layering multiple pieces of recycled fabric and using thread unraveled from the borders of old saris. The stitching combines embroidered patterns, ranging from simple floral motifs to elaborate narrative scenes, with running-stitch quilting in a thread color that matches the background fabric. Due to the dense rows of running stitches, a completed kantha has a slightly wrinkled, textural appearance. Additionally, traditional kanthas are double-faced, meaning the design appears nearly identical on both sides of the finished cloth.

The kantha cloths featured in the first three slides are examples of "nakshi kantha," distinguished by their heavily intricate embroidered patterns.

On June 4, we are pleased to offer an Introductory Kantha Workshop in partnership with , led by artist Bina Dey. This workshop will explore the cultural and historical significance of kantha while teaching foundational techniques through hands-on making. The workshop will be conducted in Bengali, and all materials will be provided. No prior experience is required. Please visit our website to learn more and register: https://buff.ly/KmJ27Kk

Join us on May 31 for a symposium exploring sustainability, material culture, and fashion systems.Presented in partnersh...
05/26/2026

Join us on May 31 for a symposium exploring sustainability, material culture, and fashion systems.

Presented in partnership with Re.Stance, this series of panels, film screenings, and workshop brings together artists, designers, and cultural practitioners who are contributing to more thoughtful, and responsible ways of creating, wearing and engaging with fashion.

Reduced admission rates available for students. Visit https://buff.ly/E1DaNpb to learn more and register.

05/23/2026

Rain or Shine, the Textile Museum is open for May 23rd & May 24th, 12pm-5pm ☔️☀️

Take advantage of free admission and stop by the Learning Hub for drop-in textile arts activities and scavenger hunts. Our reuse shop is also open, so you have first pick of new fabrics that have come in!

Spend the day exploring three exhibitions currently on view:
✨ Made by Many: 50 Years of the Textile Museum of Canada
✨ Taking Shape: Recent Acquisitions
✨ Always In Fashion

🎟️ Admission will be available at the door on a first-come, first-served basis

We look forward to welcoming you!

Celebrate Filipino Heritage Month with a special series of Collection Tours led by Museum staff and artist Timothy Manal...
05/22/2026

Celebrate Filipino Heritage Month with a special series of Collection Tours led by Museum staff and artist Timothy Manalo. These small-group tours offer rare access to objects from the Museum’s holdings and expand on Timothy’s workshop “Weaving Philippine Textiles: Learning Through Making,” presented in partnership with Contemporary Textile Studio Co-op. Whether you’re joining from the workshop or simply curious about Philippine textile traditions, this is a unique opportunity to learn directly from both the collection and the artist.

🗓️ June 10 & 11, 2026
🕐️ 1:00-1:45 PM & 2:30-3:15 PM
🎟️ $40 - General ($30 for Textile Museum Members)
🔗 Learn more and register by visiting: https://buff.ly/ugXwuRr

IMAGES:
Left: Binakul blanket (owes), T88.0791, Philippines, Luzon: Itneg or Tingguian, early to mid 20th century, cotton, indigo and plant dyes. Gift of Dale Mearns
Right: Pinilian blanket (owes), T86.0097, Philippiens, Luzon, Abra: Itneg or Tingguian, early to mid 20th century, cotton and ramie. Gift of S. Markson

On May 23 & 24, take advantage of free admission at the Textile Museum of Canada as part of Doors Open Toronto! Stop by ...
05/21/2026

On May 23 & 24, take advantage of free admission at the Textile Museum of Canada as part of Doors Open Toronto!

Stop by the Learning Hub for drop-in textile arts activities and explore three exhibitions currently on view:
✨ Made by Many: 50 Years of the Textile Museum of Canada
✨ Taking Shape: Recent Acquisitions
✨ Always In Fashion (Curated by Amber-Dawn Bear Gold)

📍 The Museum will be open 12 PM – 5 PM each day
🎟️ Admission will be available at the door on a first-come, first-served basis

We look forward to welcoming you!

The Board of Directors of the Textile Museum of Canada is pleased to announce the appointment of Urmi Desai as Executive...
05/19/2026

The Board of Directors of the Textile Museum of Canada is pleased to announce the appointment of Urmi Desai as Executive Director following her successful tenure in the interim role.

Since assuming leadership on an interim basis, Urmi has strengthened engagement and support from donors, funding partners, members, and community stakeholders — support that has been crucial to the Museum’s financial recovery and long-term stability. Additionally, she oversaw a successful fundraising campaign that enabled the Museum to reopen following a temporary closure.

“The Museum remains committed to the inclusive approach to artistic and cultural excellence that has guided our work since our founding in 1975,” said Urmi Desai. “We will continue working to ensure that the objects, peoples, artisans, and artists represented in our collections and exhibitions are presented with integrity, inclusion, and equity.”

Visit our website for the full announcement from the Textile Museum of Canada Board: https://buff.ly/owvfMJZ

Hop aboard for a special art bus excursion starting at the Textile Museum of Canada before heading to the McMichael Cana...
05/19/2026

Hop aboard for a special art bus excursion starting at the Textile Museum of Canada before heading to the McMichael Canadian Art Collection on June 7 (12–5 PM)!

📍 At the Textile Museum of Canada (starting at noon), explore two collection based exhibitions and a new contemporary fashion exhibition:
▪️ Made By Many: 50 Years of the Textile Museum of Canada
▪️ Taking Shape: Recent Acquisitions
▪️ Always in Fashion

📍 At the McMichael, explore three exhibitions that offer historical perspectives and contemporary interpretations of landscape and place:
▪️ Old Growth: Masterworks by the Group of Seven and their Contemporaries
▪️ Fresh Air: New Acquisitions in Context
▪️ Early Days: Indigenous Art from the McMichael

With comfortable transportation and opportunity to purchase a hearty lunch from Food Dudes, it’s an all-Canadian outing that is not to be missed.

Learn more and register by visiting: https://textilemuseum.ca/event/art-bus-mcmichael-canadian-art-collection/

It was a full house for the opening of ‘Always in Fashion’ and we could not be more grateful to everyone that attended (...
05/14/2026

It was a full house for the opening of ‘Always in Fashion’ and we could not be more grateful to everyone that attended (and came dressed to the nines)!

Thank you to everyone who joined us this evening, alongside Dr. Elder Bob and Stuart Keeler for their inspiring remarks. For those who couldn't make it, or are eager for another visit, the exhibition will available to visit until January 3rd, 2027.

This opening event would not have been possible without Dillon's Small Batch Distillers and Tea N Bannock. The Textile Museum of Canada would like to extend immense gratitude to TD Bank Group through the TD Ready Commitment for supporting this exhibition.

Photos by the incredible Albert Hoang.

Address

55 Centre Avenue
Toronto, ON
M5G2H5

Opening Hours

Wednesday 12pm - 5pm
Thursday 12pm - 5pm
Friday 12pm - 5pm
Saturday 12pm - 5pm
Sunday 12pm - 5pm

Telephone

+14165995321

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