Zandra Rhodes: A Lifelong Love Affair with Textiles

 

Zandra Rhodes: A Lifelong Love Affair with Textiles

The Zandra Rhodes exhibit at the Fashion and Textile Museum is a spectacular display of fabric, sketches, photographs, and garments. The exhibit follows the evolution of textile designs from the original sketches to the garments that are created from the fabric.

 

 

The exhibit starts out with a mock up work room featuring fabrics designed by Zandra Rhodes hanging from the walls and ceilings around the desk. Vibrant colors fill the warehouse like room, making it come alive as if textiles were being designed at that very moment. Display cases reveal the various elements that have been influential to the textile designs. Manmade objects, nature, and ethnic influences are visible in each of the fabrics.

 

 

 

Zandra was one of the first designers to recognize the power of the print to enhance the garment. Her work as a textile print designer marked the significance of how the print dictated the shape of the dresses.

 

 

The grey walls of the museum are warmed up with the vibrant, rich, and bold colors of the fabrics and dresses. Yellow, red, blue, and violet are common in the beautiful textiles, but Zandra has also experimented with more subtle tones in her work. Her attention to detail is seen through the zigzag edges of hems, bead work, fringe hems, top stitching, and decorative embellishments.

 

 

The attention to detail is so incredible that you could spend hours looking at one section of dresses. The Fashion and Textile Museum exceeded the normal expectations of an exhibition through their thorough attention to the mannequins. Their jewelry, hair, and makeup were reflective of the designs they were wearing and the attention to detail that Zandra would have expected.

 

 

The exhibit includes several variations of design 73/44 which is considered her most famous design. Each dress consists of the basic elements of a deep V neckline, flowing sleeves, and a full skirt. A sash in either a complimentary or contrasting color is wrapped around the waist to complete the look.  

 

 

Viewers are also given a glimpse around the world with a selection of garments inspired by various countries and cultures. The garments featured include those inspired by Manhattan, Australia, Africa, Spain, Egypt, England, and Mexico.

The bright orange building with hot pink accents is the perfect location for the vibrant colors of the Zandra Rhodes exhibit. Be sure to check out the 50s inspired exhibit that can be viewed outside the exhibition area. Admission is £5 and the museum is open from 10:00 am to 5:45 pm.

By Adrienne Bush