Re-Cycles of Dress: Costume Society of America’s 52nd Annual National Meeting and Symposium

Costume Society of America’s 2026 symposium in Charlotte, NC will explore the cyclical nature of dress and textile history.

From ancient reuse driven by cost to today’s response to fast fashion waste, the practices of remake, recycle, and upcycle reflect enduring ingenuity. Rising interest in second-hand shopping and creative repurposing underscores a modern shift toward sustainability, reaffirming the historical and contemporary relevance of reuse, remake, and recycle in the clothing industry.