2026 Dress and Body Association Conference
CALL FOR PAPERS
The Dress and Body Association invites submissions for the organization’s seventh annual conference, which will be held on November 7-8, 2026. Consistent with our long-term goals for inclusivity and sustainability, all activities will be 100% online.
Join our Google Group to learn about opportunities and converse with members of the DBA year-round! Email to request membership: dress.body.assoc@gmail.com.
Opening the Archives of Dress and the Body
This year’s theme focuses on the many types of archives that inspire learning and making such as libraries, museums, corporate archives, personal wardrobes, costume shops, photo albums, and diaries. It also invites reflection on histories of scholarship and activism. How do we know what we know about dress and the body?
Proposals on any topic related to dress and the body will be considered, but abstracts related to this year’s theme are most likely to be accepted. Topics might include:
- Well-known and little-known collections
- Historical costumes as inspiration for new designs
- Interacting with physical artifacts in the era of AI
- Stories that are told (and not told) by archives
- Addressing biases and privilege in archives
- Decolonizing archives (theories, methods, practices, activism)
- The science of historical colors and materials
- Old and new technologies for imaging the body
- The ethics of displaying bodies and personal artifacts
- What is ‘archival fashion’ and who buys and wears it?
- Scholarship and activism informed by archival discoveries
- Recreating historical moments/eras in media (films, TV, games, and literature)
- Practices of the archive/archiving
Both beginning and advanced scholars are welcome. Abstracts should be 200-300 words. Presenters do not need to submit a paper before the conference. Depending on the number of submissions and the time zones of presenters, each person should have approximately 20 minutes to speak with additional time for discussion.
Although we welcome scholars, educators, artists, designers, and activists from any country, the language of the conference will be English. We will consider a group of presentations in another language if there is sufficient interest.
Abstracts must be written in English and should be drawn from your own, original work. We ask that presenters not simply recycle presentations from classes or other conferences. Pre-recorded presentations are allowed, but presenters must join the Zoom meeting to hear other speakers and participate in the discussion in real time.
Please submit your abstract by July 15, 2026. All submissions will be read by at least two reviewers in a single-blind review process. If there is no extension on the deadline, authors can expect letters of acceptance by mid- to late-August. (Given the challenging times we are living in, please be patient with any delays… we are doing our best.)
To submit an abstract, go to this link: https://forms.gle/uoz3ohs9bG21pQDFA
Curious about past conferences? Check out our programs for 2020-2024 on Internet Archive: https://archive.org/details/@dress_and_body_association.
Whether you choose to submit an abstract or not, you’re welcome to attend the conference!
There is no charge. Just email us (dress.body.assoc@gmail.com) to join our Google Group and stay informed.
The Dress and Body Association is registered as a non-profit organization (501(c)(3)) in the state of Indiana (United States).
Dress & Body Association | dress.body.assoc@gmail.com
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Publishing in the Archives Profession 