Cesar Rodriguez Salinas (right) at work in the restoration studio of the Amersfoort Collection Centre with specialists from the RCE. Credits: Gerrit Schreurs Interview After training as a general conservator, Bilbao-native Cesar Rodriguez Salinas specialised in textiles and fashion costumes. He applied his knowledge and keen eye to various European collections and museums, including the Cristóbal Balenciaga Museum, before settling at the Kunstmuseum Den Haag in 2018. Major exhibitions such as “Art Deco: Paul Poiret” and “Titanic & Fashion” were under his care. FashionUnited spoke with Rodriguez Salinas about restoration and the role of heritage. He also discussed the tension between preserving the past as it was and refurbishing archival fashion for presentation to a wide audience. Could you briefly guide us through your career? In 2006, I completed my five-year bachelor's degree in fine arts in Spain, specialising in restoration. I learned to conserve everything related to heritage: photography; paper; paintings; textiles; and metals. Towards the end, I got an opportunity to train at the Balenciaga Museum in Getaria. From 2011 to 2013, I worked there on the original collection of Cristóbal Balenciaga. I was involved in research, conservation, and scientific investigation. I learned things I had never considered as a student, such as why certain pieces deteriorated while others did not. That experience opened my eyes and gave me direction for my master's degree, which focused on science and heritage for textiles. I studied for two years. Afterwards, I started travelling through Europe and gaining work experience, including…
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