Fabric In Fashion

Fabric In Fashion explored the role played by textiles in forming the silhouette in Western fashion over the last 250 years. The examination of textiles is often separated from that of the fashionable silhouette, yet historically, textiles were as important as the cut of clothing in keeping up with current fashion. This exhibition delved into the mechanics of textiles, looking at how fibers and weaves build the materiality of fashion. It will also explore the cultural influence of fabric. The Western world’s demand for fashionable textiles of silk, cotton, wool, and synthetics has had enormous repercussions across the globe.

Fabric In Fashion highlighted both clothing and flat textiles from the museum’s permanent collection, examined how the physical properties of specific fabrics determined the way a piece of clothing interacts with the body, as well as how the design and cultural associations of textiles revealed the social motivations that drive fashion forward. The exhibition was organized by Elizabeth Way, assistant curator of costume.