The exhibition “Outlaws: Fashion Renegades of 80s London” at the Fashion and Textile Museum celebrates the creativity of the 1980s London fashion scene, particularly focusing on Leigh Bowery and the influential artists and designers of that era. It showcases their styles and the DIY ethos within a vibrant community that blended fashion and music.
The new exhibition, “Outlaws: Fashion Renegades of 80s London,” at the Fashion and Textile Museum, vividly captures the creative energy of 1980s London through the lens of performance artist and fashion designer Leigh Bowery, who served as a catalyst for a radical scene blending fashion, music, and nightlife. Focusing on 1985, during the height of Taboo, the show highlights a vibrant community of artists and musicians, including Boy George and John Galliano, who thrived in Soho’s nightlife, utilising their talents to express individuality and rebellion through extravagant fashion. Co-curator Martin Green aims to pay homage to these fashion renegades, stating, “There was incredible excitement and a unique energy about London at that time; the show is called Outlaws because this crowd were very much their own people, doing things their own way.” The exhibition showcases the influence of this eclectic group, showcasing outfits and styles from the era and reconstructing significant spaces like Browns boutique and Hyper-Hyper market stalls. Emerging designers faced financial challenges yet thrived on ingenuity, opting for recycled materials and DIY aesthetics reminiscent of Duchamp’s found art. Personal stories from individuals, such as Dean Bright, highlight the rapid rise of designers in this vibrant scene, emphasising how limited resources fuelled creativity. Green reflects on the lasting impact of this period, noting that today’s fashion continues to resonate with the rebellious spirit of the past. Bowery’s mantra encapsulated the ethos of the time: “It’s 1985 so dress as though your life depends on it, or don’t bother.” This philosophy, combined with the palpable sense of possibility in the London fashion sector, created an environment rich with experimentation and boundary-pushing style.
The 1980s in London were marked by a flourishing counterculture that intertwined fashion, music, and nightlife, especially in clubs like Taboo, where Leigh Bowery played a pivotal role. This era produced a surge of creativity among young fashion designers and performers who embraced flamboyance and individuality, often working with limited resources. The exhibition at the Fashion and Textile Museum seeks to explore this vibrant community’s legacy, focusing on their influence on fashion and subversive culture, and how they contributed to the emergence of modern aesthetics and gender fluidity in fashion today.
The exhibition “Outlaws: Fashion Renegades of 80s London” at the Fashion and Textile Museum effectively showcases an extraordinary time in London’s cultural history, where music and fashion coalesced to form a distinctive identity. Through the exploration of Leigh Bowery’s influence and the resourcefulness of emerging fashion designers, it highlights the importance of creativity, individuality, and community. The legacy of this era continues to inspire contemporary fashion, demonstrating that the rebellious spirit of the 1980s remains relevant.
Original Source: www.forbes.com