THE MUSEUM AT FIT
Cristiana Cannizzaro
“Global Fashion Capitals” Exhibit
What does fashion identity
mean when it comes to a
global scale?
One of the newest exhibits at
The Museum at FIT, “Global
Fashion Capitals, examines this
question on a broader level. It
explores the history and the
creating of the four central global
fashion capitals, but also looks
into the rise of 16 rising places,
such as Stockholm, Antwerp and
Istanbul.
On exhibit are both classic and modern
designs that show the skills of these
fashionable destinations. The bigger fashion
capitals have familiar symbols, such as Coco
Chanel for Paris, Mary Quant for London,
Ralph Lauren for New York, and Versace for
Milan.
But the recent cities demonstrate a various
assortment of both developing and midcareer
designers. A fall 2013 Delpozo gown draws
the attention to the rebirth of Madrid fashion,
while a Marina Hoermanseder outfit of
leather, fiberglass, and mohair acknowledges
the unconventional art setting in Berlin.
Moved by village life and storytelling customs
in her home country of Nigeria, designer
Amaka Osakwe has developed a fashion label
called Maki Oh, located in Lagos. Carla
Fernandez, working from Mexico City, made
a suit influenced by the Mexican Revolution
and Aztec principles of art. With innovation
as a leading foundation, these designers go
above established folk dress to hold a global
creativity, discovering advancement in both
global and local markets.
Looking further around the exhibition, what becomes apparent is just how much territorial lines have
mixed together when it comes to high fashion. A factor of this explanation is that a lot of the foreign
designers still show up to Paris or New York to display their collections. Another reason is that fashion
capitals are presently global fusions of designers, who were most likely born elsewhere.
Technology has made it attainable for designers to make renowned goods from all over the globe, and
also be noticed by buyers in all places. But as a consequence, the location of the shows has truly become
less valuable to their prosperity. Additionally, it may take some time to develop an additional fashion
capital with holding influence, and by then, will fashion weeks even be important?
“Global Fashion Capitals” is plenty to make people think about what the time to come means for arising
fashion cities.
“Fashion Underground: The World of Susanne Bartsch”
“Fashion Underground: The World
of Susanne Bartsch,” focal point is
not on a designer or thematic
fashion concept, but on a woman
who represents the idea of the
fashion dream. Created by Valerie
Steele, the exhibition brings
spectators on a quick journey of
Susanne Bartsch’s 30-year career as
a fashion rebellion, unconventional
boutique owner and magnificent
creator and host of parties.
These over the top parties, crowded
with revolving bodies in unusual
clothes, were nightly displays of
performance art. Entertained at
numerous spots, such as Savage,
Copacabana and Le Bain, the
parties captivated the people of the
fashion world.
Bartsch, by birth is from Switzerland. She had
her first New York party in 1986 near the
Chelsea Hotel. It was a great creation that
appealed to many celebrities and artists.
Bartsch’s lavish example of a party proved
herself to be a symbol as a component in the
New York art-party scene, where she made a
title for herself as mixture of fashion and other
areas of artistic expression. She was particularly
involved in bringing young designers from the
UK, such as Vivienne Westwood, to New York.
Separated into three parts, the
exhibition takes the observer of the
underground on a sequential tour of
Ms. Bartsch’s visionary world. After
going past a wall of graffiti, reflecting
the urban, underground nature of her
noted parties, one enters the
dreamlike furnishings of her
downtown store filled with Galliano,
Leigh Bowery and Stephen Jones
mannequins.
The biggest part of the exhibit feels
like one is in an underground club,
which consists of a steel mesh
elevated platforms, disco balls, video
projections, even a rotating circular
platform displaying her mostly
flashiest pieces as they shine in the
changing light.
Then, one ends the tour in the red, a
basic heaven of Ms. Bartsch’s
sanctuary: her home, filled with an
assortment of some looks that she
wears today.