’Drawing Fashion’ at Design Museum, London
![Illustration by Antonio](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/2vPzgrWr35qQaFhnjbML85-415-80.jpg)
It may be seen as a fickle industry, but while others have flippantly dropped the humble pen and paper in favour of photography, the traditional technique has not only endured but flourished in fashion circles. In an ode to fashion illustrations from past to present, the Design Museum is playing host to 'Drawing Fashion', a collection of fashion illustrations throughout the 20th and 21st century.
Co-curated by fashion historian and writer Colin McDowell and pieced together over 30 years by fashion drawings expert Joelle Chariau of Munich's Galerie Bartsch & Chariau, the exhibition charts the changing tides of cultural perceptions towards fashion illustration through the decades, which drastically changed with the onset of photography. Once used as an advertising tool for fashion houses to showcase the latest collections and how they should have been worn, these illustrations have gradually shifted to becoming an important part of a fashion house's brand history and representation.
Illustrations on display from the broad range of fashion houses will move through Art Nouveau, Art Deco, Pop art and into the present, supported by film clips, music and photography relevant during the past century. Important artists from past decades such as Lepape, Gruau, Antonio, and the present, such as Francois Berthoud, will be featured.
Taking inspiration from the show's drawings, the exhibition graphics have been done by London graphics agency 'A Practice for Everyday Life', who revived the vintage layouts, applying them to the new posters and invitations in commemoration of the exhibition.
The exhibition will also be accompanied by a series of talks, kicking off with the 'Drawing Fashion Debate' which calls on discussions from Colin McDowell, Joelle Chariau, Francois Berthoud, Howard Tangye and William Ling.
'Couture I' by Morinerie, 2010
Mona Bismark portrait by Bouché
'Red Dress' by Mats Gustafson for Yohji Yamamoto, 1999
Illustration by Bérard, Vogue France, 1937
'Karl Lagerfeld' by Antonio, Vogue France, 1972
'Lingerie' by Antonio, Elle France, 1966
'At Home' by Antonio, New York Times Magazine, 1967
The design for the exhibition was conceived by Carmody Groarke Architects
The initial architects' model visualising the layout for the exhibition
The London-based architects have created a curved structure to provide an atmospheric walk-through for the illustrations on display...
Photography by Timothy Davey
... and have also played with light by illuminating the panels
Photography by Timothy Davey
A limited edition of 50 signed prints of this image, 'Fashion by Dior', by Francois Berthoud for Numero France, 2004, were created by A Practice For Everyday Life (the graphic designers of the exhibition). The image is also available as a poster in The Design Museum shop for £17
A limited edition of 50 prints of this image, 'Robes d'été', by Christian Bérard for Vogue France, 1935, were created by A Practice For Everyday Life (the graphic designers of the exhibition)
The exhibition, as designed by Carmody Groarke
Photography by Richard Davies
ADDRESS
Design Museum
28 Shad Thames
London SE1 2YD
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