Uniformity: Cracking the dress code

11 September 2012

Uniforms are everywhere, but how much do you really know about them?

Uniformity: Cracking the dress code, a new Te Papa exhibition opening Thursday 27 September 2012, unlocks the origins and meanings behind uniforms and how they influence what we wear today.

‘Uniforms are constantly reinvented and can be used to tell fascinating stories of how society has changed over time,’ say curators Puawai Cairns and Stephanie Gibson.

Military dress, church vestments, school uniforms, sporting attire, T-shirts that act as billboards – these are all featured in the exhibition. Uncover how military dress has influenced fashion. Compare the All Black jersey of a century ago with the synthetic Rugby World Cup 2011 ‘strip’.

New additions to the Te Papa collection also feature in the exhibition, including the combat dress worn by Corporal Willie Apiata, VC in Afghanistan, and a suit once owned by Bishop Brian Tamaki, founder of Destiny Church.

‘We hope that the uniforms will inspire people to take a second look at clothes they wear every day,’ say the curators.

Uniformity: Cracking the dress code
Opens Thursday 27 September 2012
Eyelights Gallery, Level 4, Te Papa
Free entry

Media contact

Roxan Mathys, Manager Communications (Acting)
029 601 0180 or (04) 381 7083
media@tepapa.govt.nz