Elizabeth Hawes

Elizabeth Hawes: Along Her Own Lines is the first contemporary exhibition dedicated to the gifted American clothing designer, author, and labor activist, Elizabeth Hawes (1903–1971). The show opens at a crucial moment when Hawes is especially relevant, because her activism and innovative philosophies correspond to the concerns of today. Hawes criticized the exploitative, classist nature of the fashion industry and sought to revolutionize it in her own creations, and through her writing and unionization efforts. She created gender non-binary clothing and encouraged women to embrace their unique bodies with an open-minded positivity that was ahead of its time. Hawes further used writing and journalism to challenge the fashion industry from the inside, and called for people to think consciously about what they wear–with words that remain influential.