“To be creative and new, you need to know what has happened before, and react against it, you have to be aware of what has happened in fashion to be truly innovative.“ Hywel Davies, course leader for Central Saint Martin’s BA Fashion Communication course
Earlier this year, the Business of Fashion published an article on “Why Fashion Can’t Forget Its References”, giving spotlight to a new issue which was first noted by the leading Fashion Schools and recruiters when overseeing design approaches by the new generation of designers.
With higher expectations than ever, employers are on the search for outstanding research skills, ability to decode cultural references, predict cycles and identify gaps in the market. This has been driven by the shift in the availability of information online and an increased competition amongst Fashion students along with many other factors. These days, the designers have plenty of opportunities to research the rich international history and interpret fashion designs and as a result become more competitive in the Fashion industry. To introduce you some of the options, we have made a compilation of four must visit Fashion exhibitions in 2018.
1. FASHIONED FROM NATURE –
This exhibition will present fashionable dress alongside natural history specimens, innovative new fabrics and dyeing processes, inviting visitors to think about the materials of fashion and the sources of their clothes. You will find innovative regenerated materials, outfits and iconic items from climate change protests and much more.
DATE: Opening on Saturday, 21 April 2018
LOCATION: Victoria and Albert Museum, London
SOURCE: https://www.vam.ac.uk/exhibitions/fashioned-from-nature#intro
2. FRIDA KAHLO’S WARDROBE –
This exhibition will present an extraordinary collection of personal artefacts and clothing belonging to the iconic Mexican artist Frida Kahlo. Locked away for 50 years after her death, this collection has never before been exhibited outside Mexico.
DATE: Opening on Saturday, 16 June 2018
LOCATION: Victoria and Albert Museum, London
SOURCE: https://www.vam.ac.uk/exhibitions/frida-kahlos-wardrobe
3. HEAVENLY BODIES: FASHION AND THE CATHOLIC IMAGINATION
The exhibition will feature a dialogue between fashion and religious artworks from The Met collection to examine the relationship between creativity and the religious imagination. Serving as the cornerstone of the exhibition, papal robes and accessories from the Sistine Chapel sacristy, many of which have never been seen outside The Vatican, will be on view in the Anna Wintour Costume Center.
DATE: Opening on Thursday, 10 May 2018
LOCATION: Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York
SOURCE: https://www.metmuseum.org/exhibitions/listings/2018/heavenly-bodies
4. MARGIELA / GALLIERA, 1989-2009
This exhibition, the first retrospective in Paris devoted to Belgian fashion designer Martin Margiela, traces the career, from spring-summer 1989 to spring-summer 2009, of a designer who not only questioned the structure of garments but also challenged the structure of the fashion system. Using more than 100 silhouettes, videos of défilés, House archives and special installations, the Margiela / Galliera exhibition offers us an unprecedented look at one of the most influential contemporary fashion designers.
DATE: Opening on Saturday, 3 March 2018
LOCATION: Musée de la Mode de Paris
SOURCE: http://www.palaisgalliera.paris.fr/en/exhibitions/margiela/galliera-1989-2009