Ashes to Fashion

A Collection Reborn

A pink dress part of Ashes to Fashion Exhibition
Date
Open now until Sunday 13th September
Time
10:00 to 17:00 (Closed Mondays)
Event type
Free for members

On 11th November 1976, a devastating fire at Malone House in South Belfast – where the Ulster Museum’s fashion collection was being stored at the time - led to the near-total loss of the original costume and textile collection.

Fifty years on, the Ulster Museum fashion collection stands stronger than ever. A collection reborn through significant acquisitions, a future-proof collecting policy and generous donations, making it one of the most important collections in Western Europe. 

Ashes to Fashion marks this extraordinary milestone with a stunning showcase of fashion from the eighteenth century to today, from historic garments to contemporary pieces by Chanel and Versace. 

The exhibition features rarely-seen items, including the sole survivor of the 1976 fire - the Lennox Quilt, an exquisite 18th-century embroidered quilt – which was not lost in the fire because it happened to be on display at the museum. Renowned designers like Alexander McQueen and Carolina Herrera, as well as designs by Irish fashion icons JW Anderson and the late Paul Costelloe, are all on show alongside many more iconic names. ‘Ashes to Fashion’ will also showcase a selection of the latest acquisitions to our fashion collection, including objects from the Lanto Synge Needlework Collection, offering pieces that symbolically replace items lost in the fire.

Celebrate and commemorate fifty years of collecting fashion at the Ulster Museum and experience a collection reborn. 

Please note, this is a paid exhibition - tickets on sale now! 

Book Exhibition Tickets

Ashes to Fashion exhibition, now open.

10,000 or so items destroyed, along with their records. The specimens lost included one of the best collections of linen damask in the world, a rare Elizabethan embroidered jacket, a costume collection with items of nearly every year from the 1770s to the 1970s, and a very good collection of 18th century dress, Irish, English and continental lace, Irish and foreign embroidery including 17th century embroidery, and fans, toys, dolls, needlework tools, fashion plates, photograph albums, foreign costume and all costume accessories.

A staff memo circulated on the day of the fire gives a brief and stark overview of the loss

Creating Colour in Art, 2 girls colouring in.

A FREE, unmissable learning experience during Ashes to Fashion

Free entry is available for pre‑booked education groups from Schools (Primary and Post-Primary) and Further and Higher Education to experience Ashes to Fashion. Find out more.

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FAQs

This is our first major fashion exhibition featuring our own costume and textiles collection in almost a quarter of a century. Your ticket purchase directly supports our work to care for the public collections and make them accessible to everyone. Without additional support, we could not put on major exhibitions like this.

Ashes to Fashion will be the only exhibition in the museum you have to pay to see – the rest of the museum will remain free to visit. To see the exhibition, you will need to book a ticket with an entry timeslot using the 'Book Tickets' link above (or click here). 

Members and Friends of the Ulster Museum go free, however, advanced booking is recommended to secure your preferred timeslot.

Children under 5 will be free - a child ticket is for all other ages up to the age of 18. 

Visitors with a registered disability and access helpers or carers do not need to pay, but booking your ticket is still required. 

School and Further and Higher Education bookings are free but must be pre-booked. Please make your booking request by filling out this booking form or emailing education@nationalmuseumsni.org.

You can book tickets on this page at the 'Book Now' ticket link above or in person at the museum, subject to availability. Ticket prices are as follows and include Gift Aid to support the museum:

  • Members and Friends of the museum Free
  • Adult £8.00
  • Child £5, under 5s free
  • Student £5 (or free if booked as part of a pre-booked education group)
  • Senior (60+) £6
  • Family of 3 (1 adult + 2 Children or 2 adults + 1 child) £17
  • Family of 4 (1 adult + 3 Children or 2 adults + 2 children) £19
  • Family of 5 (1 adult + 4 children or 2 adults + 3 children) £22
  • Accessible adult or child Free
  • Carer (must be attending with the person they care for) Free

On the ticket screen, you will have the option to remove Gift Aid from your ticket if you wish.

If you're a member or Friend of the Ulster Museum, entry is free for you on production of a valid membership card. You still have to pre-book your ticket online or on arrival at the museum. Pre-booking ensures your preferred time slot. 

Please note that schools may be in the gallery between 10:00 and 13:00 daily.

Members of the following organisations will also get in for free or with a discount, with proof of membership, and you can only get your ticket at the museum:

  • Art Fund Members 50% off
  • Museums Association Members free
  • NMDC Members (National Museum Directors' Council) free
  • ICOM Members (International Council of Museums) free

Discounted entry that must be pre-booked, no discount on walk-up

*Family tickets and free entry tickets are not eligible with group bookings.

No, however, tickets will be allocated in 15-minute time slots between 10:00 and 16:15 daily and we recommend you give yourself a hour to experience Ashes to Fashion. Your ticket will be within that timeframe and it is recommended that visitors arrive 5 minutes before their session time, as late entry cannot be guaranteed if the gallery is very busy.

First entry to the exhibition will be at 10:00, Tuesday to Sunday, with last entry at 16:15. (The museum is always closed Mondays except most NI Public/Bank Holidays). 

Please note that schools may be in the gallery between 10:00 and 13:00 daily.

Your ticket is valid for the date and time of entry as booked and printed on our ticket confirmation. Re-entry to the exhibition is not permitted. Tickets are non-transferable and non-refundable, however, we will work with you in exceptional circumstances. Just email our team or call 028 9044 0000.

In terms of access to the rest of the museum on the day, you can stay in the museum for as long as you like during opening hours (10:00 - 17:00).

The Wynne & Pym Café in the museum is also the perfect place to sit and relax before or after you go to the exhibition.  There is a wide selection of beverages and hot and cold dishes from soup, sandwiches and sausage rolls to scones, tray bakes and cakes. 

No, National Museums NI members get in for free but you still have to book your free ticket. You also beed to show your valid membership card. 

Advanced booking is recommended to secure your preferred time slot on the day(s) you want to go into the exhibition. Just book your free, timed 'member' ticket via the 'Book Ticket' button at the top of this page or click here. 

Other memberships with free or discounted entry are listed below and you can only get your ticket at the museum:

  • Friends of the Ulster Museum free
  • Art Fund Members 50% off
  • Museums Association Members free
  • NMDC Members (National Museum Directors' Council) free

  • ICOM Members (International Council of Museums) free

Pre-booked education groups

Students go free if pre-booked as part of a group via your school or institution - more information

We will scan your ticket on entry either from a printed ticket or on a smartphone or tablet.  Proof of booking is required to enter this exhibition.  

Members must also show their valid membership card.

If you don't have your ticket handy, we can check your booking reference but this may take a little longer to check at admissions and could delay your time spent in the exhibition.

Tickets are non-refundable and non-transferable. 

In exceptional circumstances, please call our booking line on 028 9044 0000 and our team will work with you as best we can to reschedule your visit.

Photography is permitted, however, flash, large professional equipment, tripods and selfie sticks are not permitted. 

Please step back and use zoom on your camera/phone when photographing the objects on open display - this is to avoid the risk of dropping your camera/phone on the displays or inadvertently making contact with the objects. Gallery invigilators will approach visitors seen doing this and will ask you to adhere to gallery rules. 

Images must be for personal use only. Please refrain from taking photos of other visitors unless they have given you consent to be photographed.

Commercial photography or filming requests need to go through filming@nationalmuseumsni.org

Media requests should contact media@nationalmuseumsni.org

The following items are NOT permitted in the gallery:

  • Large bags, suitcases and backpacks – lockers are available on the ground floor to store these items
  • No food or drink
  • No vaping
  • No flash/professional camera equipment, tripods or selfie sticks

We ask that visitors do not touch the objects or infrastructure and remain behind the ropes.

Children (under 12 years) must be accompanied by an adult.

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Peter Phillips (1939-2025) British Mosaikbild 6 x 1, 1975 Acrylic on canvas BELUM.U2414 Purchased 1976 © The Estate of Peter Phillips

1976: The Way We Were

This display of 20th-century Art from the Ulster Museum Collection sets the scene for Ashes to Fashion, our most recent exhibition, by re-creating an imaginary visit to the Ulster Museum art galleries in 1976.