Design your own fashion week at these museums and galleries

The home of contemporary fashion and textile design, the Fashion and Textile Museum in London hosts regular exhibitions exploring some of the most exciting designers and makers around the world, and offers a journey through the fascinating history of these intertwined industries. It was founded by legendary designer Zandra Rhodes, who made garments for the likes of Princess Diana and Freddie Mercury.

A large 19th-century English lace collection, decadent garments worn by a French Empress, and vestments embroidered by a silent order of nuns. These are just a few highlights from The Bowes Museum's spectacular fashion collections and will journey you through the history of fashion from the 17th to the 20th century. And while you're there, don't miss their current exhibition exploring the fashion legacy of the museum's co-founder and taste maker, Joséphine Bowes (ends 1 March).

See rare gowns, post-war couture or designer sunglasses in this fashion lover’s heaven. Home to the largest fashion collection in the world, the V&A is a treasure trove of everything from jewellery, costume, hats and wedding dresses to underwear and embroidery. The museum regularly hosts major fashion exhibitions, which have showcased Hollywood costume, African fashion and the menswear industry. Currently on is Marie Antoinette Style, exploring the last queen of France's enduring influence on fashion, culture and art (ends 22 March).

Knitting has enjoyed a major resurgence in recent years, with the likes of the diving Olympian Tom Daley championing working with wool. But while it may be trendy now, knitting actually has a long history as an ancient art form, dating as far back as the ancient Egyptian era. The Framework Knitters Museum charts the incredible 400-year story of framework knitting specifically, which inspired other industries such as the Nottingham lace trade.

Tucked away in a lovely corner of Cumbria, Farfield Mill boasts working looms, craft demonstrations and exhibitions uncovering the history of the textile industry. A beautifully restored Victorian wool mill, Farfield was a working mill for over 150 years. If you get the chance, go to see a showcase of contemporary textile art by leading artists from across 15 countries at Avant Garde - International Textile Exhibition before it closes on 1 March.

The spectacular fashion collection at the Walker Art Gallery includes indoor and outdoor clothing, underwear, hats, shoes and accessories, as well as a stunning collection of Western European textiles shared with Lady Lever Art Gallery. You’ll also find embroidery, tapestries and home furnishings, some dating as far back as 1600.

Reopening after a temporary closure on 14 February, you’ll find a wide range of accessories, clothing and textiles at Blandford Fashion Museum, home to the coveted 'Cavalcade of Costume' collection. There’s a tea room and shop on site, plus exhibitions exploring stories of historic dress and textile trends between 1700 and the 1900s.

See contemporary weavers at work from the viewing balcony at Dovecot Studios; this unique space combines a working tapestry studio with a thriving art gallery. As well as collaborating with artists to produce everything from handwoven tapestries to gun-tufted rugs, the gallery hosts a range of fascinating exhibitions exploring clothing, embroidery, design and more. Currently on is The Biba Story: 1964-1975, which explores the world of the iconic fashion label.

Housed inside the former Cambrian Mills, Wales’ National Wool Museum reveals how the village of Dre-fach Felindre in the Teifi Valley was once the centre of a thriving woollen industry. Peruse everything from locally made socks, stocking and shawls to cosy blankets and bedcovers, plus try your hand at ways of working with wool, including spinning and sewing.

Dive into the fascinating history of the Irish linen industry – with demonstrations of hand-spinning and handloom weaving, plus lovely examples of historic linen costume and furnishings.