From ancient ceremonial cloths to cutting-edge contemporary fiber art, one Toronto museum holds over 15,000 threads connecting cultures across two millennia.

Welcome to the Textile Museum of Canada, where every thread tells a story.

Nestled in downtown Toronto, this specialized institution offers something rarely found elsewhere: a dedicated space to explore how textiles have shaped human culture, identity, and artistic expression across the globe. Whether you're drawn to intricate historical carpets, vibrant ceremonial garments, or innovative contemporary textile art, this museum reveals the universal language woven into fabric.

From Ice Cream Shop to Cultural Hub

The museum began with an entrepreneurial spirit and a passion for textiles. Founded in 1975 by Max Allen and Simon Waegemaekers as the Canadian Museum of Carpets and Textiles, it started in humble quarters above an ice cream shop in Toronto's Mirvish Village. The founders built their initial collection from textiles they encountered during business travels, gradually assembling pieces that would form the nucleus of today's collection.

By 1989, the growing museum moved to its current downtown location, expanding its scope beyond carpets to embrace the full spectrum of textile arts. Today, the museum acknowledges its position on the traditional territories of the Mississaugas of the Credit, the Anishinaabe, the Chippewa, the Haudenosaunee, and the Wendat peoples.

A Global Tapestry

The museum's permanent collection spans an impressive 2,000 years and includes more than 15,000 textiles from around the world. You'll find everything from delicate fabrics and ceremonial cloths to everyday garments, ornate carpets, handcrafted quilts, and related artifacts that tell the story of textile creation and use across cultures.

The diversity is stunning: ancient weaving techniques preserved in historical pieces sit alongside contemporary fiber art that pushes the boundaries of the medium. The museum's digitization project, Canadian Tapestry: The Fabric of Cultural Diversity, has made over 7,000 artifacts accessible online, with thousands more being added, bringing these textile treasures to a global audience.

More Than a Museum

What sets this museum apart is its dynamic approach to textile education and appreciation. Beyond static displays, the institution functions as a living center for textile arts through its award-winning exhibitions that have garnered recognition for shows like Cloth & Clay: Communicating Culture and A Terrible Beauty: An Installation.

The H.N. Pullar Library serves as a specialized research hub focused on non-industrial textiles, offering scholars and enthusiasts access to rare reference materials. The museum's programming brings textiles to life through lectures, hands-on demonstrations where you can see traditional techniques in action, workshops, music and dance performances that connect textile traditions to their cultural contexts, and school programs that inspire the next generation of textile enthusiasts.

Textile Museum of Canada Highlights & Tips

• Canadian Tapestry Digital Collection Explore over 7,000 artifacts online through this award-winning digitization project, perfect for planning your visit or diving deeper into specific textile traditions from home.
• H.N. Pullar Library A specialized reference collection focused on non-industrial textiles, offering researchers and curious visitors access to unique materials on textile history and techniques.
• Contemporary and Historic Exhibitions Curated shows blend cutting-edge fiber art with ethnographic artifacts, providing fresh perspectives on how textiles continue to evolve as an artistic medium.
• Interactive Programming Check the museum's event calendar for hands-on demonstrations, workshops, and performances that bring textile traditions to life beyond the display cases.
• Photography Opportunities The museum's diverse textile displays offer rich visual details. Confirm photography policies before your visit to capture the intricate patterns and colors.
• Downtown Location The museum's central Toronto location makes it easy to combine with other downtown attractions. Public transit provides convenient access to the area.

The Textile Museum of Canada proves that textiles are far more than functional objects. They're historical documents, cultural markers, and artistic expressions that connect us across time and geography.

Whether you're a fiber artist seeking inspiration, a history enthusiast tracing the evolution of craft traditions, or simply someone curious about the stories woven into everyday objects, this museum offers fresh perspectives on an art form that touches every human culture. In a world increasingly focused on fast fashion and disposable goods, the museum reminds us of the skill, creativity, and cultural significance embedded in textile creation.