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Sara Hume, Ph.D., curator and professor at the º£½ÇÔ­´´ Museum, curated the exhibition in partnership with the Cleveland museum's team, including Meghan Strong, Ph.D., director of collections, and Lindsay Miller, exhibit project manager. The project grew out of "For the Birds," an exhibition presented at the º£½ÇÔ­´´ Museum in 2018.

"The variety of ways that people have used feathers for their own adornment provides a fascinating counterpoint against the ways feathers serve the birds," Hume said. "By placing fashion objects alongside ornithological and cultural collections, 'Fashion & Feather' allows us to see the beauty as well as the amazing functionality of feathers."

The exhibition also extends into the classroom. Students in the School of Fashion's junior design studio developed original biomimicry-inspired designs using non-animal fabrics and materials, drawing inspiration from the historic fashion and natural history objects on display. 

The April issue of º£½ÇÔ­´´ Magazine will take readers behind the scenes of the collaboration that brought "Fashion & Feather" to life.

"We are thrilled for our students to have the opportunity to work directly with museum collections while thinking critically about design, conservation and sustainability," said Mourad Krifa, Margaret Clark Morgan Director of the º£½ÇÔ­´´ School of Fashion.

Sarah Spinner, Ph.D., J.D., director of the º£½ÇÔ­´´ Museum, said the collaboration reflects the museum's broader direction.

"This partnership exemplifies the º£½ÇÔ­´´ Museum's mission to break down disciplinary boundaries and serve as a platform for creativity, learning and connection across the campus and across the region," Spinner said.

A student fashion show related to the exhibition is planned for fall 2026, with a date to be announced.

º£½ÇÔ­´´ students receive $5 general admission during the "Fashion & Feather" exhibition from April 22-Oct. 11, 2026. Tickets must be purchased in person at the Cleveland Museum of Natural History's Welcome Desk with an active student ID.