3D Simulation A New Embodiment for Historic Fashion

The study of material culture has been enlivened by discourse on dress and its relationship to culture, history, economics, and technology. Since the late 1800's museums and schools of fashion design have assembled collections of historic fashion for exhibition and research. Photography was adopted early on by museums looking to disseminate their holdings. Digital imaging and the World Wide Web have made access to the images available to anyone with an internet connection. This paper reports on a project using animated 3D simulation to further enhance the virtual experience; and the significance of accurate motion capture in creating these simulations.