British menswear designer John Alexander Skelton will be the next featured designer at the V&A’s Fashion in Motion on Friday.
The Fashion in Motion series brings catwalk shows by leading local and international designers to the V&A. The aim is to show fashion as it is meant to be seen – in movement.
Held in the Museum’s Raphael Gallery on Friday 23 March, three free shows will present highlights from the Central St Martins and London College of Fashion graduate’s career thus far. Skelton’s tailoring evokes deconstructed versions of mens 19th – century voluminous frock coats and high-waisted trousers. With his sustainable design ethos, Skelton takes found recycled fabrics like antique bed sheets and old grain sacks, and customises them through hand-dying, over-washing, painting and patching to create garments inspired by his exploration of the past, traditional craft, heritage and politics.
For this Fashion in Motion presentation, Skelton will investigate themes of the Green Man – a traditional folklore figure of rebirth, representing the cycle of growth each spring.
His recent collections have been inspired by themes as diverse as the cotton trade between India and Britain in the 1930s to traditional British 19th – century folk theatre and medieval pagan rituals. Of his forthcoming show Skelton said,
“In my journey as a designer, the opportunity to show at the V&A is of utmost significance. The institution and in particular, The Raphael Gallery, upholds the importance of craft, rarity and theatricality. These qualities are at the heart of my work.”
Previous designers featured in the Fashion in Motion series include Alexander McQueen, Christian Lacroix, Christopher Raeburn, Erdem, Gareth Pugh, Giles Deacon, Grace Wales Bonner, Jean Paul Gaultier, Jenny Packham, Meadham Kirchhoff, Missoni, Molly Goddard, Roksanda Ilincic, Vivienne Westwood, Yohji Yamamoto and Phoebe English.
Fashion in Motion: John Alexander Skelton is happening this Friday 23 March at Victoria & Albert Museum in London, with shows on at 3pm, 5pm and 8pm. Admission is free but advance booking is essential. Find tickets on the V&A website.
Need to know:
- Admission is free but advance bookings essential.
- Tickets – visit the V&A website
- The 3pm show will be live streamed via the V&A Facebook page.
- @V_and_A #FashionInMotion
Seen at top: John Alexander Skelton, hats in collaboration with Stephen Jones. Photograph by Ryan Skelton
The Garb Wire 