Most institutions have collecting policies which define the scope of the existing collections and describe the criteria for processes such as acquisition, storage, preservation, transfer and disposal. Every acquisition should be able to tell several stories and have a clear role within the institution’s programme and activities. For some ideas about the narratives which can be told through semi and fully synthetic garments, see Potential narratives and research areas.
There is a predisposition towards acquiring objects whose storage needs are understood and can be met, and whose longevity is known. As this guide makes clear we are only just beginning to undertake research to establish how synthetic fibres and fabrics behave over time and their life span. We can offer general guidelines about appropriate temperature and humidity ranges for objects in storage and on display and some fibre specific information. See section Caring for synthetic garments, and the entries on individual fibres in Featured fibres and materials.
There are occasions when a conflict arises between a material’s potentially short lifespan or unknown behavioural patterns and a legitimate proposal to acquire an example to document its historical, social, and cultural connotations. This dilemma will become more acute as new materials made in novel ways come on the market, for instance those designed to meet the challenge of climate change. Contemporary collecting is an important aspect of developing and enhancing the relevance of our collections for present and future audiences. We need to be open to discussing how such objects could be registered, cared for, studied, and made accessible within the museum.