The Costume Museum, a different view of our past

History of fashion

In the heart of Errenteria's old town, the 17th-century baroque house Kapitain Etxea houses a treasure trove of textiles: the ‘Jantziaren Zentroa’ Costume Centre. The building, dating from 1638, is a good way of learning about the origins of this town in Gipuzkoa province, making it the ideal place for visitors to discover a different view of history, one that's both unique and fun. Jantziaren Zentroa offers the chance to appreciate our culture, customs and tastes from the 16th to the 20th century, through the rich fabrics, colours and patterns of the clothes on show.

All this is thanks to the work of Iraultza Dantza Taldea, which has studied Basque dress for 20 years, seeking information in photographic archives, documents and publications and examining original clothing. In order to explain each costume and its time, the fashion of the day in Europe was studied.

The permanent exhibition is divided into two rooms, one on each floor, where the evolution of fashion is analysed chronologically from the 18th century to 1970. Through original garments from the Basque Country and abroad, we will take a journey through three centuries, in which we will learn about the change, transformation and evolution of fashion. Clothes of humble or upper class people, same fashion and period, but seeing the difference in fabrics, material and design.

In addition to the clothes on display, Jantziaren Zentroa has reproduced five women's costumes from the 16th-20th centuries. These are divided in half, on one side we can see the costume on the outside, that is, what we see in the exhibition rooms, on the other side the hidden part of the costume, all the pieces that give it volume and shape, frames and ways of tying the clothes. These costumes are an option for blind or visually impaired people, as they can be touched and thus know what they are talking about.

Jantziaren Zentroa also offers visitors the experience of feeling the costumes. At the end of the visit we will find a 19th century oak wardrobe. When we open it, we are invited to try on the clothes in it and see our ‘new’ image in a mirror.

Entrance: 4 euros, free for children under 5 years old.

Guided tours are available in Basque and Spanish, at a price of 7 euros if there is a minimum group of 6 people, by calling the tourist office in Errenteria, telephone 943 49 45 21 or by writing to Jantziaren Zentroa at jantziarenzentroa@errenteria.eus.