Digital ArchivesDigital Archives

Digital Archives

Yves Saint Laurent, Dress(detail), Autumn/Winter 1965
©The Kyoto Costume Institute, photo by Taishi Hirokawa

Our digital archives, including information on the institute’s holdings, are located in the KCI Study Room and open to the public on a reservation-only basis. Visual and textual information on all 13,000 items of clothing and accessories in the collection is available to aid designers and researchers in their studies. The KCI Digital Archives (located on our website) present visual and textual information on roughly 300 items from the collection, arranged in chronological order.

Digital ArchivesDigital Archives
From left top to right bottom : Beer, c. 1919, photo by Richard Haughton.  Dress, c. 1845, photo by Taishi Hirokawa.  Sewing box, late 18th C., photo by Takashi Hatakeyama.  Coat, Waistcoat, Breeches, mid. 18th C., photo by Taishi Hirokawa.  Paul Poiret, 1914, 1913, photo by Takashi Hatakeyama. Viktor & Rolf, Autumn/Winter 2003, photo by Takashi Hatakeyama.  Hat, Marthe Schiel (left), 1930s, photo by Takashi Hatakeyama.  Corset, 1880s, photo by Takashi Hatakeyama.  Reticule, c. 1800, photo by Taishi Hirokawa .  Vionnet [presumed], c. 1925, photo by Masayuki Hayashi.  Shoes, 1880s, photo by Taishi Hirokawa.  Dress, 1780's (fabric: 1740s), photo by Takashi Hatakeyama.  Comme des Garçons, Autumn/Winter 1991, photo by Takashi Hatakeyama.  Fan, 1760s, photo by Toru Kogure.  Paul Smith, Spring/Summer 2000, gift of Joi'x Corporation, photo by Takashi Hatakeyama.
SPIRAL
Photo:Junpei Kato
Courtesy of Spiral / Wacoal Art Center

SPIRAL

In addition, the digital archives can be physically accessed at the Spiral arts complex in Tokyo. No admission or reservations are required, but please contact the facility for details on opening hours and days.

KCI Study Room

Using our collection database, located in the KCI Study Room, you can access visual and textual information on more than 13,000 items.
Note: Reservations required. Please reserve at least 10 days in advance.

Hours Mon. and Wed., 13:00-17:00 (closed on national holidays and during the New Year season)
Fee Free admission (two-hour maximum)
Printing. charges required.
Number of users Maximum of one person at a time.
Collection database Visual and textual information on more than 13,000 items.
Address The Kyoto Costume Institute
103 Shichi-jo Goshonouchi Minamimachi
Shimogyo-ku, Kyoto 600-8864, Japan
Google Map
Reservation required Please submit an e-mail with the following information:
Name, affiliation, e-mail address, time and date of desired visit, and research subject.
E-mail:info@kci.or.jp