An upcoming exhibition at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, will explore how technological advancements in the mass manufacturing of fashion have impacted on the industry.
The garments due to go on display for Manus x Machina: Fashion in an Age of Technology – over 120 of them in total, dating back to the 1880s – are the results of techniques such as 3D printing and laser cutting, as well as garments made by hand. The former has of course enabled designers and fashion houses to create more conceptual couture that’s more akin to a work of art than a wearable piece.
The premise of the show is to document the emergence and timeline of advancements, such as the invention of the sewing machine in the 19th century. The merits of haute couture will be contrasted against ready-to-wear – both very different entities, with their own position in the market.
Work from designers including Jean Paul Gaultier, Christian Dior, Helmut Lang and Miuccia Prada will be showcased in the exhibition’s home, spanning two sections of the museum.
The exhibition will take place at the Metropolitan Museum of Art between 5 May and 14 August. For more information visit the website.
Photography credit: Nicholas Alan Cope
