Historical Costumes
Research, Details, & hand sewing.
I’ve been working with History Museums for a few years making period replica costumes for educational spaces. These projects range from carefully researched and hand sewn reproductions to re-imagined garments that tell stories of their own.
Mudcloth Afrofuturist 18th Century Inspired Gown Designed by Cheyney McKnight of Not Your Momma’s History , 2022
gown construction
MoAR Elizabeth Freeman Performance Costume : Elizabeth Freeman’s ensemble was designed and constructed based on her only known portrait by Susan Anne Livingston Ridley Sedgwick. She wears a cotton lawn empire waisted gown, linen apron, and silk handkerchief. All visible stitching was done by hand. The performance "Meet Elizabeth Freeman" stars Tiffany Bacon as Elizabeth Freeman and was written by Teresa Miller for the Museum of the American Revolution as part of the Museum's special exhibition, When Women Lost the Vote: A Revolutionary Story, 1776-1807.
Elizabeth Freeman’s portrait by Susan Anne Livingston Ridley Sedgwick.
MoAR Rebecca VanDike Performance Costume : Rebecca VanDike’s ensemble was designed and constructed based on multiple portraits of upper class NJ women in the early 1800’s. She wears a cotton sateen gown over a striped cotton petticoat with a silk handkerchief. All visible stitching was done by hand. "Meet Rebecca VanDike" stars D’Arcy Dersham as Rebecca VanDike and was written by Valerie Dunn for the Museum of the American Revolution as part of the Museum's special exhibition, When Women Lost the Vote: A Revolutionary Story, 1776-1807. In 1801, women in Montgomery Township, New Jersey, committed a revolutionary act: they voted. Between 1776 and 1807, women and free people of color could vote in the new state of New Jersey.
English Gown for Cheyney McKnight “Not Your Momma’s History” Cheyney’s gown is based on period examples of English Gowns circa 1770’s. The gown is made of a worsted wool and constructed with hand stitching.
18th Century Stays. Machine sewn.
thank you Mood!
Museum of the American Revolution Female Interpreters : The female educators at Museum of the American Revolution dress in working class clothing appropriate for the years 1760 - 1780. Each garment is made from natural fibers and constructed with hand stitching. The ladies wear bed gowns, two petticoats, and linen aprons over a shift and stays.
MoAR Educational Interpreter
MoAT Educational Interpreter
Cheyney ( Not Your Momma's History ) in a denim jacket and petticoat outside an old studio of mine in Bushwick, Brooklyn.
Gown designed by Cheyney @notyourmommashistory & made by me. This dress is made from an African wax print cotton and was patterned, cut, and sewn in a late 1770’s style. The trim is ruched silk taffeta
Denim Sack-Back 18th century inspired gown designed by Cheyney McKnight and made by me.
Stomacher detials
The National Museum of African American History & Culture, Washington, DC -Olympians, Tommie Smith, John Carlos & Peter Norman. Sculptures made by STUDIO EIS representing the 1968 Olympic moment in Mexico City
Jackie Robinson figurative sculpture costume for the National Museum of African American History and Culture, Washington DC. Sculpture made by Studio EIS
Two figurative sculpture made by Studio EIS for the exhibit "When Women Lost the Vote" at Museum of the American Revolution.
Early 1800's regency gown for the exhibit "When Women Lost the Vote"
Early 1800's regency gown interior for the exhibit "When Women Lost the Vote"
Ensemble details for a figurative sculpture made by Studio EIS for the exhibit "When Women Lost the Vote" at Museum of the American Revolution.