No one clips the wings of Björk’s dress

The swan dress controversially worn by Björk at the 2001 Oscars, the upcycled Union Jack jacket worn by Kate Moss for Vogue and a vast ruffle dress worn by Rihanna are taking centre stage at a new show.

REBEL: 30 Years of London Fashion, at The Design Museum in Kensington High Street, Kensington, will celebrate 300 young designers and their impact on London’s fashion scene.

Opening on September 16, visitors can expect exuberant, rebellious and radical garments, many of which are part of pop culture history and launched global design careers.

The show will not shy away from controversy.

One of the major highlights will be Marjan Pejoski’s swan dress which was worn to the Oscars in 2001 by Icelandic singer Bjork.

It was a crystal-encrusted body stocking surrounded by a puff of white feathers, with a long neck that draped around the singer’s neck, the orange beak resting on her chest.

Accessories included a trail of eggs that she ‘laid’ as she walked down the red carpet.

For a while, the dress was a punchline in popular culture. Two decades later, it has gone down as one of the most iconic Oscar outfits ever.

The original dress has only ever been on public display twice – both times in New York.

Its appearance in REBEL will be the first time it’s been seen in Britain, where it was designed, created 22 years ago.

The show will be split into sections, starting with London’s art institutions where the designers first learnt their craft and ending on the runway.

The pieces will be shown alongside films, drawings, memorabilia and some archive material from top designers that has never been seen before.
The Design Museum has worked with the fashion designers at the heart of the show to choose their most important and personal pieces.

The exhibition has been organised in collaboration with the British Fashion Council (BFC) to celebrate the 30th anniversary of its NEWGEN
programme, an initiative that supports the best emerging fashion design talent.

Sarah Mower, BFC Ambassador for Emerging Talent said: “it is impossible to underestimate the influence London has on Britain’s fashion talent.

“A city that produces wave after wave of young designers that value originality, wearing what you believe in, and tackling social issues to make a better world. This exhibition will bring London’s art schools, clubs and catwalks to life like never before.”

REBEL: 30 Years of London Fashion will run from September until February 11 at the DesignMuseum.

 

Picture: Bjork and the Swan Dress Picture: Pulicciano, Flickr