Zandra Rhodes: Unseen exhibition at the London Fashion and Textile Museum

30^th June 2013

Arabella Bradley

Arabella Bradley

30 June 2013

To celebrate the 10th anniversary of London’s Fashion and Textile Museum, which Zandra Rhodes created and opened to the public, her exhibition, Unseen will be unveiled from mid-July.

Forming an integral part of British fashion design, Zandra Rhodes has been using her extrovert use of bold colour and print along with feminine prints in her career that has spanned an impressive half a century. The exhibition will display her archive pieces, available to see for the first time ever, and reveals how Rhodes has maintained her place as an innovator in the international fashion scene.  

“It is wonderful to see my work in a new light,” says Rhodes. “Many of these garments have only ever been seen on the catwalk before, so it is a joy to me that they haven’t been forgotten.”

Head of the Fashion and Textile Museum, Celia Joicey says: “Zandra’s extraordinary imagination and sense of colour are instantly recognisable across 50 years of work. This exhibition reveals why she is an inspiration to young designers as well as to her contemporaries.”  Garments that showcase Rhodes’ innovative vision are her signature embroideries, beads, feathers and sequins, which all feature at the exhibition.

With this year’s autumn/winter punk trend revisiting the catwalks, which already took the Met Ball in May by storm, the exhibition could not come at a better time. Rhodes was nicknamed the “Princess of Punk”, which is clear to see through the exhibition showing the strong influences with her designs and how she became the first designer to merge punk with high fashion in the 1970s.

The exhibition features her 1977 Conceptual Chic collection taking centre stage that includes pink and black jersey pieces studded with holes and beaded safety pins. Zandra Rhodes: Unseen presents a rare glimpse into her past designs, with an array of textiles, spectacular dresses and original sketches.

The exhibition explores the progress from her earliest daring designs to the more refined ready-to-wear pieces of today. Also documented is Rhodes’ pioneering work in India, which helps to sustain and support their local crafts and skills.

Zandra Rhodes continues to be an inspiration to her contemporaries and this exhibition combines the lesser-known items of her extensive collections, confirming why Zandra Rhodes remains such an icon in the fashion world.

During the exhibition, the museum shop will offer a specially curated range of products, including sketchbooks, cards and Zandra Rhodes jewellery available for purchase.

Exhibition Dates: 12^th July – 31^st August 2013
Open Tuesday to Saturday, 11am – 6pm
Last Admissions 5.15pm
Closed Sunday and Monday

Museum entry
£8 adults / £5.50 students and concessions
50% off full price ticket for Art Fund members
Children aged 12 and under are free

Tickets may be purchased in person on the day of the visit.

For more information about the Exhibition and ticket prices click here.

Zandra Rhodes: Unseen, Fashion and Textile Museum, 83 Bermondsey Street, London, SE1 3XF, 12^th July – 31^st August 2013.