From March 25 2025 to 1 February 2026

In its major special exhibition 2025, the Weltmuseum Wien takes a journey through 3,000 years of trouser history from around the world and uses this symbolic item of clothing to pose the question: ‘Who wears the trousers?’

The exhibits tell a tale of perfected functionality as well as craftsmanship and design. They bear witness to the conditions of human existence – in luxury or poverty, during daily routines, and in finery. British artist Ian Berry’s piece ‘the Morning After’ is included in the show with his work all made of denim pants.

sokoto Maker unknown, Nigeria, c.1980, Jacquard fabric made of cotton, synthetic fibres, and lurex with machine stitching, Weltmuseum Wien, Barbara Plankensteiner Collection © KHM-Museumsverband

Skinny, baggy, formal, PJ-style: they are a deeply familiar global phenomenon that comes in all shapes and sizes. To many of us, they form a part of a personal identity, they trigger gender and generational conflicts, they are a marker of cultural and social belonging. Trousers. The Weltmuseum Wien takes one on a journey through 3,000 years of global legwear history, from the oldest types of pants from the Bronze Age to the present day!

Trousers are everywhere – yet they hold much more meaning than meets the eye. From ancient riding trousers to modern jeans, Who’s Wearing the Pants? explores cultural norms, social change, and personal identity. Treasures and quite a few oddities from the collections of the Weltmuseum Wien, the Kunsthistorisches Museum, and the Theatermuseum meet loans from Austrian and international institutions. Historical originals, presented alongside selected contemporary artworks, create a multifaceted picture of this symbol-laden garment.

The narrative spans from the Bronze Age and the oldest kinds of trousers to rebellious women and their striving for social and political equality. It addresses the religious roots of laws against cross-dressing as well as the transgressions against the resulting rigid gender norms in theatre, carnival and dance. Representing the evolution of trousers in European menswear, iconic sports and military legwear and trousers are shown. More and less known trousers from the Habsburg wardrobe are contrasted with fascinating legwear shapes from Latin America that blend colonial orders and indigenous tradition. Last but not least, we turn to undergarments and conclude our journey of by casting a look at current challenges in legwear production.

Ian Berry, *THE MORNING AFTER* U.K., 2014 Assemblage of denim fragments AWWG Collection, Pepe Jeans®, Madrid Courtesy of Pepe Jeans® © Bildrecht, Wien 2025

The large annual exhibition shows treasures and many a bizarre finds from the collections from around the world. In the show, historical objects enter into dialogue with contemporary art. Ian Berry’s 2014 piece is loaned from the collection of the AWWG Collection and is displayed next to a selection of denim garments.