Salem Gets Dressed

Drawn from PEM's nationally significant collection, this presentation in PEM's Fashion & Design gallery features pieces associated with New England figures and families, illustrating a sense of pride in a city defined by an intense and varied history, a profound maritime heritage and vibrant communities and culture. Through more than 40 garments and ensembles dating from the early 1700s to the present — including costumes, uniforms, wedding attire, and enduring everyday wear — the installation traces how generations of residents have expressed identity, status and belonging through what they made and wore. 

As Salem transformed from a thriving port to a retail hub and, later, a center for cultural tourism, fashion reflected and helped define its changing identity. Garments on view reveal Quaker traditions, connections to abolitionist histories, the influence of local businesses along Essex Street and the lived experiences of families who built their lives here. Together, they highlight Salem's long-standing diversity and the ways clothing can carry memories across generations.

Fashion also reimagines history. From commemorative costumes to contemporary designs inspired by Salem's past, these works show how each generation interprets and reshapes the stories it inherits, inviting us to consider how we express ourselves and what we choose to carry forward.
 

This installation is located in the Fashion & Design Gallery and is part of Salem 400+ celebrations. Explore all of PEM's Salem 400+ activities at pem.org/salem400.
 

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