Fragonard Opens New Fashion Museum in Arles, France

The Musée de la Mode et du Costume opened in Arles on July 6, 2025, housed in the 18th-century Hôtel de Bussy at 16 Rue de la Calade. The museum was founded by the Fragonard perfume house, led by Anne, Agnès, and Françoise Costa, in collaboration with fashion historian Odile Pascal and collectors Hélène Costa and Magali Pascal. The building was restored by Studio KO, the architects behind the Musée Yves Saint Laurent in Marrakech and Chiltern Firehouse. The inaugural exhibition, 'Collections-Collection,' curated by director Clément Trouche, features over 10,000 pieces of Arlesian and Provençal clothing from the 18th to 20th centuries. The exhibition includes works by 18th-century painter Antoine Raspal, notably his painting 'L'atelier de Couture,' and a video installation by contemporary artist Charles Fréger. The museum highlights the historical significance of the 'Arlésienne' fashion, which originated in Arles due to its role as a trading hub between the Mediterranean and the continent. The annual 'Grande Promenade' fashion parade, started in 1830, showcased local sartorial culture, with women spending a year on their outfits and the press crowning a 'queen.' In 1838, Arlesian women protested corrupt fashion journalists by appearing in nightgowns. The museum aims to preserve and transmit the heritage of Arlesian costume.