Dokumentation activities

The Norwegian Institute of Bunad and Folk Costume manages archives containing folk costume registrations and other documentation related to bunads and folk costumes. Thanks to fieldwork where we register garments owned by private individuals and museums, we have accumulated a comprehensive archive. Although our documentation activities focus on folk costume traditions, we also consider it important to document their history.

From fieldwork in Vesterålen i 2011. Photo: NBF.

The costume registrations account for the largest part of our archive. While some of the material registered is owned by museums, most of it is in private ownership. Costume research in an international context has largely been based on museum material, so an archive like this is unique for Norway.

Our archives also encompass photographs, sources, swatches, sewing patterns and instructions, correspondence, and archives donated by private individuals. We also have a large collection of bunad models.

All this material is held in our documentation centre. Use of the collections is free of charge. Copies of items can be obtained on request for a fee, and subject to a written agreement regulating use of the material. The general rule is that all material is available to the public, although access to some items may be restricted by agreement with the owner. Today the collections are also digitised and therefore more readily accessible to users.