Category: Fashion
Lara Jensen SS13 Vanitas Collection.
Second Nature will investigate the enduring relationship between fashion and nature, illustrating the powerful influence of the environment on design, patterns, materials and production across the fashion industry. This intriguing new exhibition features a collection of fashion designers working to the highest level of the craft, and takes place in the PM Gallery, the extension to one of Sir John Soane’s great architectural treasures, Pitzhanger Manor sitting in Walpole Park, Ealing. It is the ‘dream house’ designed by Soane as a place to entertain his friends and display his collection of art and antiquities. Second Nature includes film, illustration and sound, as well as patterned textiles and garments, elaborate plumage incorporated into millinery and durable outdoor fashions employing natural fabrics.
Peter Pilotto SS12.
The exhibition was inspired by Soane’s work and, in particular, the ways in which he used architectural effects and trompe l’oeil to bring the outside world into his buildings. His country retreat, Pitzhanger Manor, is a striking example of his fascination with the workings of nature, evident in such details as the elaborate Bird of Paradise wallpaper in the Upstairs Drawing Room and the rose garden he planted at the back of the House.
Swash, image by David Dunan.
Curator Gemma Williams says 'Soane brought the natural world indoors with his designs and interiors, while fashion has been weaving the environment into its creations for many years. Our new exhibition will provide a vibrant review of the inventive ways in which widely varied designers have continued to return to nature for inspiration. That this will happen within a masterful example of Soane’s craft is a real joy for us and the combination of exhibits and setting will provide a feast for the eyes.'
Giles Deacon.
A collection of accessory designers and sculptors will create a special Cabinet of Curiosities filled with myriad intricate objects. Designers for this part of the show include Dai Rees, Leandro Cano, Nora Fok, Simon Costin and Yasemen Hussein. Other featured designers include Donna Karan, Roksanda Ilincic, Zandra Rhodes, Roland Mouret, Giles Deacon, Fyodor Golan, Peter Pilotto, Nigel Cabourn, Jaeger, Temperley London, Laura Ashley and Lara Jensen.
Opening Times: Tues-Fri & Sunday 1-5pm; Sat 11am-5pm; Closed Monday.
Travel: Trains & tube to Ealing Broadway. Buses 207, 65 & 83.
Find further visitor information here.