Beyond Seeing exhibition at the WIP La Villette in Paris.
Last year saw fashion exhibitions and retrospectives taking the spotlight, from Christian Dior: Designer of Dreams held at Paris’ Les Arts Decoratifs – touted as the largest fashion exhibition ever – to Balenciaga, Working in Black and Fortuny, a Spaniard in Venice. The trend looks to continue in 2018, with fashion fans getting prime picks of a slew of major exhibitions, including those devoted to eminent designers such as Martin Margiela and the late Azzedine Alaïa. Here is a list of those not to be missed.
Beyond Seeing at the WIP La Villette in Paris (Jan 18 to 28)
A multi-sensory interactive experience that aims to make fashion discernible beyond visual stimuli through fashion pieces, workshops, performances and more. The travelling exhibition is a collaboration between the Goethe-Institut and several European fashion schools.
Margiela/Galliera 1989-2009 at the Palais Galliera in Paris (March 3 to July 15)
The first ever Maison Martin Margiela retrospective will trace the Belgian designer’s career from Spring/Summer 1989 to Spring/Summer 2009, through over 100 creations, as well as videos of catwalk shows and special installations.
Heavenly Bodies: Fashion and the Catholic Imagination at the Met in New York (May 10 to Oct 8)
The Metropolitan Museum of Art’s exhibition will highlight the impact of religion, particularly Catholic traditions, on fashion houses and designers. In addition to pieces from modern-day fashion houses, an interesting showcase will be the display of papal robes and accessories from the Vatican’s archives.
Azzedine Alaïa: The Couturier at London’s Design Museum (May 10 to Oct 7)
The new Design Museum will trace the career of the Tunisian designer, known as the “king of cling” for his iconic body-con dresses, who died last Nov 18. The exhibition will showcase many of his timeless couture pieces for women.
