The “Transcultural Fashion / Costume Narratives” conference, organized by the Hungarian Academy of Arts’ Research Institute of Art Theory and Methodology (MMA‑MMKI) and the University of Pécs’s Departments of Applied Arts and Communication & Media Studies, is set to invigorate scholarly discourse from September 5 to 7, 2025. The event offers unique opportunities to explore the interdisciplinary connections between fashion, costume design, and media across cultural boundaries.
This three-day, transdisciplinary event features original research and critical analysis focusing on the many intersections between fashion, costume design, and media—spanning cinema, television, and live performance. Special emphasis is placed on cross-cultural manifestations of fashion, its status as a globalized communicative medium, and its ability to embody social, cultural, historical, and aesthetic narratives.
The conference unfolds in two iconic venues: the Műcsarnok (Palace of Exhibitions) in Heroes’ Square, Budapest, and the elegant Schloss Esterházy, where Joseph Haydn was an artist in residence. On the final day, the plenary lectures and “From Fashioning Cultural Heritage to the Impact of The GenAI” panel discussion will be an official Budapest Central European Fashion Week side event, in collaboration with the Hungarian Fashion and Design Agency.
Key topics include identity formation through dress, the cultural significance of costumes, curatorial and archival practices, digital fashion frontiers, and sustainable approaches to material and consumption. These themes aim to challenge traditional boundaries and expand the understanding of fashion’s role in a globalized cultural landscape.
The conference’s keynote speakers bring a wealth of insight. Dr. Sofia Pantouvaki, Professor of Costume Design at Aalto University and a leading figure in international scenography, Dr. Nick Rees-Roberts, Professor at Sorbonne Nouvelle, Paris, and author of Failure: The Negative Art of Fashion (2025), Dr Ágnes Fülemile, senior research fellow at ELTE Research Centre for the Humanities, and Doris Domoszlai-Lantner, an interdisciplinary professional working in fashion academia as well as fashion archives, and the editor of Digital Fashion: Theory, Practice, Implications (Bloomsbury 2024).
In september 7 admission is free, but registration is required.
Please indicate your intention to participate by 4 September 2025 at mma-mmki.hu.
This landmark event bridges fashion theory and practice with international dialogue and critical thought.