REBEL: 30 Years of London Fashion. Exhibitions.
Last weekend, I delved into the world of contemporary fashion at the Design Museum's latest exhibition. A collaborative effort with the British Fashion Council (BFC) to mark the 30th anniversary of the BFC's NEWGEN programme, REbel: 30 Years of london fashion showcased the narratives of emerging designers who have left a lasting impact on the industry.
Curated by BFC Ambassador for Emerging Talent Sarah Mower MBE and Design Museum Senior Curator Rebecca Lewin, the exhibition offered a journey through the courage and creativity of young designers.
The storytelling format, moving from art school to behind the scenes and onto the catwalk althoughwell structured seemed slightly over expressed. Nevertheless, the exhibition effectively presented a range of garments, films, drawings, memorabilia, and never-before-seen archive material, offering a detailed view of the creative design process.
Highlighting nearly 100 innovative fashion looks, the exhibition features iconic pieces like Björk's swan dress, Harry Styles' 'Golden' ensemble, and Sam Smith's inflatable latex suit by HARRI from the BRIT Awards. Collections from designers such as JW Anderson, Wales Bonner, Erdem, Molly Goddard, Christopher Kane and Simone Rocha..
The exhibition curates an experience that goes beyond the surface of fashion, revealing the creation stories woven into each garment. It also seems to aim to provide a balanced perspective on the transformative power of emerging fashion while offering insights into the evolving nature of the industry.