Several garments from the Westminster Menswear Archive currently feature as part of an exhibition celebrating the global story of tartan at the V&A Dundee.
Tartan is Scotland's first major exhibition in 30 years focusing solely on the iconic textile and pattern, and features several garments from the Westminster Menswear Archive, including a tartan evening jacket from the 1950s, BOY London punk bondage trousers, a man's tartan smock dress by Gucci, a CC41 Utility sweatshirt top, and a Palm Angels tartan tracksuit jacket.
Also on show is a full runway look from Owen Edward Snaith, who graduated from the Fashion Design BA Honours course in 2022 and whose outfit was acquired by the Westminster Menswear Archive last year.
Andrew Groves, Director of the Westminster Menswear Archive, said: “We have been working closely with the show’s consultant curator, Professor Jonathan Faiers, and have been able to source specific garments for the exhibition. In addition, due to the Archives' policy of collecting examples of graduate work, we were able to lend the V&A a deconstructed tartan trench coat from Priya Ahluwalia's 2018 Menswear MA graduate collection, as well as Owen Edward Snaith’s graduate outfit.
“The Great Fishwife couture kilt ensemble by Owen Edward Snaith is a radical reworking of a traditional féileadh-mór, or belted plaid, and is made from his 'Incentive' tartan, which was specially woven for him by Taffled Threads in Alloa, Scotland.”
The exhibition presents a radical new look at a globally recognised design and brings together many different voices from around the world. More than 300 objects illustrate tartan’s universal and enduring appeal with examples of fashion, architecture, graphic and product design, photography, furniture, glass and ceramics, film, performance and art.
Tartan is on at the V&A Dundee until 14 January 2024.
Find out more about Fashion courses at the University of Westminster.
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