A new exhibition coming to Manchester Art Gallery this summer explores groundbreaking moments in the history of high-end fashion.
Unpicking Couture opens on Fri 21 July and will run until January 2025, premiering spectacular pieces which have recently entered Manchester Art Gallery’s collection.
Created by influential designers and fashion houses, each outfit represents a significant moment in the industry and includes works by Christian Dior, Elsa Schiaparelli, Azzedine Alaïa, Cristobal Balenciaga, Pierre Cardin, Vivienne Westwood, Yohji Yamamoto, Bruce Oldfield and Alexander McQueen.
The two main themes of the show are: investigating the links between fashion and emotions, in the form of dopamine dressing which encourages dressing for joy, and focusing on repair and restoration, inviting visitors to consider the lifecycle of a garment and the way it is valued and cared for.
The exhibition will reveal the recent restoration of a 1930s silk velvet jacket by Italian couturier Elsa Schiaparelli, Unpicking Couture promotes sustainable approaches to repairing and preserving.
The garments will be on display for the first time after being acquired through a National Heritage Lottery Fund Collecting Cultures grant from 2015-20.
For more information, head over to the Manchester Art Gallery website.
- Words:
- Bradley Lengden
- Published on:
- Sat 17 Jun 2023
