Renowned tapestry and contemporary art venue Dovecot Studios presents the Scottish premiere of Costume Couture: Sixty Years of Cosprop, opening July 2026.
Renowned tapestry and contemporary art venue Dovecot Studios presents the Scottish premiere of Costume Couture: Sixty Years of Cosprop, opening July 2026. The exhibition is a celebration of six decades of creativity across film, television and theatre, presenting an unrivalled opportunity to go behind the scenes of one of the most celebrated costume houses in the world. Exhibiting some never seen before garments, this exhibition traces the full journey from script to screen with original costumes on display alongside design drawings, research material, mood boards, swatches and archive photography.
Cosprop, the legendary London costume house founded in 1965 by Oscar and BAFTA-winning designer John Bright OBE, has shaped the visual identity of British screen production for sixty years. Now, Dovecot Studios presents this stitched legacy as part of its ongoing commitment to championing arts and crafts in Scotland.
Throughout the exhibition, leading costume designers and actors reflect on their most celebrated work with Cosprop, from Helena Bonham Carter’s 1906 ensemble in A Room with a View to Maggie Smith’s wardrobe for Downton Abbey and Lesley Manville’s costumes in Mrs Harris Goes to Paris, revealing how each piece was researched, constructed and brought to life.
The exhibition spans the full arc of that history, from the BBC’s era-defining Sunday night costume dramas to Hollywood blockbusters. Highlights include Nicole Kidman’s 1880s evening gown from The Portrait of a Lady, Jenna Coleman’s 1840 wedding dress in Victoria and Johnny Depp’s Captain Jack Sparrow costume from Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl – together representing a collection that spans continents, centuries and genres.
Dovecot Studios gives Costume Couture: Sixty Years of Cosprop a home where the significance of every stitch is fully understood. Holding true to Dovecot Studios’ ethos to promote local talent, the creative venue will be engaging with local costume design, theatre and performing art students, giving a platform to new innovative work and continuing Cosprop’s creative legacy in Scotland. Inspiring the next generation of textile makers, this exhibition stands as a definitive record of period costume at its finest.
Since founding Cosprop in 1965, John Bright has built a team of meticulous experts who guide every production from initial research through to the final fitting. At the heart of the operation sits the John Bright Collection: over 8,000 original garments that give makers direct access to authentic fabrics, construction methods and period silhouettes found nowhere else. Every bespoke piece is built from scratch in the Cosprop workroom using techniques and textiles true to the era, even down to dyeing the fabrics by hand. These high standards of material knowledge and craftsmanship connect Cosprop’s work directly to the traditions of excellence in textile-making that Dovecot Studios has championed for over a century.
Designer Penny Rose, comments, There’s a lot of fantasy in the story, but not in the costumes. We want these clothes to look like they’ve been slept in and worn forever. Ageing and dyeing for a period film are absolutely vital.
Celia Joicey, Dovecot Studio’s Director, comments, Dovecot Studios’ appreciation of art, design and textile practice makes this a natural collaboration, perfectly aligned with our tradition of creating and celebrating contemporary tapestry. Cosprop’s extraordinary commitment to craftsmanship, historical accuracy and innovation resonates strongly with our own values, and we are delighted to present this landmark exhibition to Scottish audiences.
This exhibition is organised by the Fashion and Textile Museum and is curated by Keith Lodwick in collaboration with Dennis Nothdruft, Head of Exhibitions at the Fashion and Textile Museum.
Costume Couture: Sixty Years of Cosprop
Dates Saturday 18th July 2026 – Saturday 9th January 2027
Location Dovecot Studios, 10 Infirmary Street, Edinburgh, EH1 1LT
How to get there 10-minute walk from Edinburgh Waverley Train Station
Tickets are available priced £12.75 from Dovecot Studios
Instagram @DovecotStudios
Published with thanks to www.chloenelkinconsulting.