About SMOC

Previously known as the Original Costume Museum Society – SMOC was founded in 1992 to collect historic fashion, traditional costume, and textiles and to establish a museum to store and display these articles.

We are already home to thousands of artifacts that date from circa 1800 to today. From glamour and glitz to everyday grit, we preserve the stories of how people have adorned themselves in all walks of life.

We hold considerable items from the 19th Century but the strength of the collection is post-World War II Ready -to -Wear featuring many Canadian designers and local history.

The Society presents live programs at Hycroft Manor, usually three in the spring and three in the fall. This includes the ever-popular period themed fashion shows curated and presented by Ivan Sayers.

The SMOC Society and its members:

  • provide reference materials

  • provide resources for the media and other museums

  • present educational programs about the history of fashion to the general public, and at trade schools, colleges, universities, libraries, and museums

From the SMOC Collection