Written by Treasure Seeker Colleen
On the 18th of September, one day before his birthday, Ivan Sayers is working! He's at Hycroft, The University Women's Club in Vancouver, to share with us his history of collecting as well as a bit of his own history, as always fashionable! And what an afternoon it was!
His birthday was celebrated with cards, donations to the OCMS for a future ( hopefully near) fashion museum, thunderous applause, standing ovation and song, and a huge birthday cake. But he gave the gift. His gift was his collection of his favourite pieces, displayed and modelled as well as a compilation of his photographs and articles about him and his work. He emphasizes that it's all about his work, rather than himself. (Not true, you could see the collection but it wouldn't be as much without Ivan detailing the history and where he found each piece and where in his shows it's been highlighted.)
Ivan discovered the Royal Ontario Museum when he was 12 and then started his own museum in his backyard. While he worked at the Lady Alexandra Floating Hotel (near the Bayshore) he enrolled in a Museum Curatorship course at UBC and was written up in the paper for his first display involving fashion and bird feathers and much more. (The copy was there for us to read) He has had 40 years of good reviews and work has always come to him.
One of his favourite shows was one he organized for the CNIB. He took the most tactile elements of his collection and really rose to the challenge of describing the colours for the blind. He continues to work at a passionately fevered pace, supporting charity and fundraising evnts:Breast Cancer, Diabetes and others, teaching for UBC and SFU as well as community colleges, other universities, and Design and Fashion Programs -to share the importance of Fashion History and to support the formation of a local Fashion Museum.
Of the 18th and 19th century clothing displayed at the back of the room, one of the dresses (1760's) was worn in 1945 to celebrate the end of WW 2 - 1945. A man's coat and vest came from Vienna and featured much detail and finery. A wedding dress (1878) was an evening dress refashioned from a wedding dress and came from a collection from Powell River.
A black dress at the front of the room, is a signed Oscar De La Renta! Fashion Historian, Curator, Collector, Teacher, Mentor, Famous Vancouverite and Friend to many...Happy birthday, Ivan...and happy years more of having the best and being the best!
