The Costume Institute at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City puts on amazing fashion exhibitions every year. This year's show is no different. I strolled through the exhibition halls a few weeks ago and "Manus x Machina" took my breath away. Andrew Bolton, the curator, delved deep into the history of workmanship and arranged the exhibition in an engaging way. You will learn tons about the relationship between handwork and the use of machine within each garment on display. Scroll below and enjoy the stunning pieces.
The main hall holds Karl Lagerfeld's Chanel wedding ensemble. It's a fabulous example of the balance between the hand (manus) and the machine (machina). It is made from scuba knit, a synthetic material, and is hand molded, machine sewn, and hand finished.
The main hall holds Karl Lagerfeld's Chanel wedding ensemble. It's a fabulous example of the balance between the hand (manus) and the machine (machina). It is made from scuba knit, a synthetic material, and is hand molded, machine sewn, and hand finished.
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There is so so much to cover but I will just highlight a few things that caught my attention. I love florals and as you can see below, a whole section of the exhibition was devoted to flowers and their multiple ways of application to garments. Amazing!
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This wedding ensemble is an exquisite example of a garment done purely by hand. One could study it for hours ...
 |  House of Chanel, Wedding Ensemble by Karl Lagerfeld, 2005-2006 |
Embroidery, featherwork, lacework, and leatherwork ... these are just a few ways of garments construction studied in this exhibition. What is also interesting is the comparison of garments created in different time periods. For instance, you may see a dress from the 1920s right next to a 2015 piece. In many cases one cannot really tell the time and it is thus great to learn about how the techniques in fashion have changed; or, haven't changed.
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I appreciate the work of Iris van Herpen and several of her intricate 3-D printed garments are on display. A whole section is devoted to pleats, as they do indeed deserve much attention. As you walk past early 20th century Greek-inspired gowns to contemporary Japanese aesthetic in garments constructed out of pleated shapes, such as circles, you won't cease to be amazed.
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As a textile designer, I am drawn to textures. And this exhibition surely has tons of them to offer. The photos below give you an insight into the variety of methods that go into fashion. Aren't these true masterpieces?
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"Manus x Machina" is on show until August 14, 2016. If you have a chance, go see it. It will open your eyes to the magical world of fashion workmanship!