UC Davis Will Open Italian Haute Couture Exhibition
The Jan Shrem and Maria Manetti Shrem Museum of Art will debut a collection of high-fashion designs this October.
Updated on Oct. 3, 2026 in Fashion
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The Gift of Fashion: From the Maria Manetti Shrem Haute Couture Collection will open to the public at the UC Davis museum on Oct. 14, 2026. This exhibition showcases luxury garments and jewelry from the personal collection of Maria Manetti Shrem.
Why it matters
The exhibition highlights the intersection of fine art and high fashion through rare couture pieces. It also celebrates the ongoing work of the campus institute dedicated to design, fashion, and textiles.
The exhibit features seven couture gowns by Roberto Capucci and Dolce & Gabbana, including one design requiring 2,700 hours of work and 350,000 sequins. Maria Manetti Shrem previously pledged $20 million to support the College of Letters and Science.
The players
Maria Manetti Shrem
She is a notable philanthropist and collector who has supported the arts and academic departments at UC Davis.
Tim McNeil
He is a professor at UC Davis serving as a guest curator for the upcoming fashion exhibition.
Maev Dunning
She is a graduate student who co-curated the exhibition alongside faculty members.
The details
Curated by Professor Tim McNeil and graduate student Maev Dunning, the display features items such as a Dolce & Gabbana gown adorned with a sapphire peacock train. Jewelry pieces from designers including Bulgari and Scavia will also be on display alongside the gowns.
Timeline
The Institute for Sustainable Design, Fashion & Textiles opened in 2025.
The exhibition opens to the public on Oct. 14, 2026.
The exhibition will close on Jan. 30, 2027.
Roadmap
The exhibition represents a growing trend of major research universities integrating professional fashion archives into their academic infrastructure. This positions UC Davis as a hub for both the study of sustainable textile design and the preservation of global fashion history.
Davis residents and students can visit the museum starting in October to view the collection firsthand. The event offers a unique opportunity for fashion enthusiasts to examine rare archival pieces without traveling to major metropolitan fashion hubs.
The takeaway
This collection serves as a study in the immense labor required to create singular pieces of wearable art. Readers interested in textile design can gain insight into the hours and materials invested in high-fashion craftsmanship.
Further reading
For more information on the local arts scene, visit the Fashion section.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Daily Democrat.
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