A lady’s velvet wedding jacket, a child’s best shoes and even a gentleman’s frock are among items making up a unique collection of clothing relating to the fishing community.
Exhibiting in Fife, stories are woven around the rare pieces which form part of the Scottish Fisheries Museum’s collection.
The Anstruther museum has, as part of its extensive holdings which have been formally recognised as being of national significance, a collection of costume which represents the traditional work wear, Sunday best and gala dress of the Scottish fishing community.
It is a unique collection in that it represents most aspects of the clothing of an entire distinct community as found around the coast of the northern British Isles, dating largely to the 19th and 20th Centuries, but illustrating much older concepts, traditions and styles.
Pieces on display have been chosen because the museum knows who wore them, and sometimes even when, where and why.
Two volunteers have used this information as a starting point for their research to uncover more about the people who wore these items of clothing so the exhibition is brought to life with yarns of the people behind the threads on display.
The museum is also pleased to debut several captivating, poignant and striking items never before put on display.
The exhibition include a lady’s velvet wedding jacket and a gentleman’s frock all from the East Neuk in the Victorian era as well as dresses hand made by an Eyemouth fisherman’s wife for their twin daughters in the 1930s.
A pair of Dunlop boots worn by mackerel fishermen in the 1950s also features.
The exhibition runs until Sunday March 6.