CanadaFashionLaw was delighted to be given an exclusive invitation to
the Royal Ontario
Museum ’s preview event of its newest
installation in the Patricia
Harris Gallery
of Textiles & Costume, BIG. The
exhibit showcases 40 articles from the ROM’s collection of nearly 50,000
textiles and costumes.
During
the event, Dr. Alexandra Palmer (the exhibit’s curator) talked about her vision
for the Gallery. This, in particular, piqued
CanadaFashionLaw’s interest. She gets it.
Fashion and textiles go beyond “pretty”.
Fashion and textiles reflect significant cultural and social values that
change with the times. Does a woman’s
corset represent more than a strong desire for an hour-glass shape? Is it that different from the ancient Chinese
tradition to bind women’s feet to maintain a 7.5 cm length? The exhibit spans different cultures and time
periods and allows the audience to draw their own conclusions. If you’re looking for a little modern day controversy,
the exhibit displays one of John Galliano’s last haute couture dresses he
created at the Dior house before his dismissal.
(CanadaFashionLaw previously
covered this case. If you need a
refresher, click here).
Dr.
Palmer enthusiastically explained that the ROM wishes to be a catalyst and a
forum to foster innovation, conversation and debate for the fashion and
textiles community. It was clear that through
the ROM, Dr. Palmer’s infectious energy and enthusiasm will help shape the
voice of the Canadian fashion industry.
CanadaFashionLaw strongly encourages you to check out the ROM’s BIG exhibit,
which will be open until Fall 2013.