Buddhist nuns from Nepal, Leiden 2007	Women from Mexican village showing their clothing, 2006	Exhibition of Afghan clothing from TRC collection, Leiden 2008
Man's jacket from Saudi Arabia, in TRC collection	Pashtun woman's dress from TRC collection	Dutch lace cap from TRC collection

The Stichting (foundation) Textile Research Centre (TRC) Leiden, was set up in 1991 to support the study and presentation of textiles and dress in relation to identity: what people wear in order to say who they are. Furthermore, the TRC is particularly strong in pre-industrial textile technology. From September 2009, the TRC is housed at Hogewoerd 164 in Leiden, The Netherlands.

Over the years the TRC has built up a collection of garments and accessories from all over the world, literally from the Andes, via Zanzibar, to Japan. It is particularly strong in Middle Eastern dress. The collection now includes over 8000 items and is rapidly growing. The objects are used for research, teaching, exhibitions and publications. Lectures are often given for groups, such as from schools and other educational institutions, including (Leiden) University,  diplomatic groups, and for events on special themes. The TRC organises a series of intensive courses and workshops on a wide variety of textile and dress related subjects, including textile technology. 

The TRC works closely together with Leiden University, with respect to research, the supervision of students (study points are available), as well as the HOVO (Hoger Onderwijs voor Ouderen) classes for mature students. Exhibitions have been made with, amongst others, the National Museum of Ethnology, Leiden; the National Museum of Antiquities, Leiden; Leiden Council; Textile Museum, Boras, Sweden. TRC experience is also used to help in the creation of exhibitions about textiles and dress, such as the Oman exhibition, Nieuwe Kerk in Amsterdam (2009). In  May 2011, the TRC set up an exhibition in Amman, Jordan, about regional Dutch and Jordanian clothing for women. In addition, the TRC has set up numerous exhibitions at the TRC Gallery, on a wide variety of subjects.

Since the setting up of the TRC there has been a large and enthusiastic group of volunteers willing to support its work in many different forms. 
 

The TRC has been officially recognised as an "erkend leerbedrijf" ('officially recognised educational institution') by the Stichting ECABO (under no. 9767310), in Amersfoort. The TRC has also been officially recognised as a so-called 'Culturele ANBI ('Algemeen Nut Beogende Instelling), which means financial donations are tax deductible for Dutch tax payers, both individuals and companies.

Specialisations
The TRC has three main specialisations. Firstly, the TRC has a large collection of Middle Eastern dress for men, women and children, mainly from Egypt, Iran, Oman, Palestine, and Saudi Arabia. It is also building up a strong Coptic monastic and liturgical collection reflecting an ancient Christian community within the Muslim World.

The second specialisation is Dutch Regional Dress. This part of the collection is currently being built up. It is the intention to have outfits and representative garments for men, women and children, from all the main groups who, during the 20th century, wore Dutch regional dress, urban dress and uniforms.

The third specialisation is embroidery world-wide, both as regards its techniques and its designs, with a special focus on the history and use of embroidery in the Middle East. This focus will lead to the publication by Berg Publishers (London, UK) of The Berg Encyclopedia of Embroidery from the Arab World (2014).