Zandra Rhodes Unseen - Fashion and Textile Museum, London

Zandra Rhodes is one of the most well-known personalities on the British fashion scene. She is widely acknowledged for her experiments with colour, print and textiles and her experimentation with her own very vibrant image. Born in Chatham, Kent, UK in 1940, she was introduced to the world of fashion by her mother, a fitter for the Parisian fashion House of Worth, and lecturer at Medway College of Art, a founder college at The University for the Creative Arts. Zandra trained at Medway and subsequently at the Royal College of Art, London.

In 1967, she opened her first London shop, The Fulham Road Clothes Shop, with fellow designer Sylvia Ayton. In 1969 Zandra took her collection to the USA where her daring designs were featured by American Vogue. Her clients included Henri Bendel of New York, Sakowitz, Neiman Marcus and Saks.

In 1975, Zandra established her own shop close to Bond Street in central London as well as a boutique area in Marshall Fields in Chicago. Her Royal and celebrity clients have included Diana, Princess of Wales; Freddie Mercury; Elizabeth Taylor; Shirley Bassey; Diana Ross; Debbie Harry and Kylie Minogue.

She has also been commissioned to create opera sets and costumes for San Diego Opera's The Magic Flute and Pearl Fishers as well as Houston Grand Opera's Aida. Rhodes' work has featured in numerous exhibitions including Punk: Chaos to Couture at The Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York. (9th May to 14th August 2013).

Rhodes is the recipient of numerous awards including Designer of the Year in 1972 and Royal Designer for Industry in 1974. She received the CBE (Commander of the British Empire) in 1997, a well-deserved public acknowledgement of her contribution to fashion and textiles. She holds several Honorary Doctorates from Universities in both the UK and USA and in May 2010 was installed as Chancellor of the University of the Creative Arts.

This is a unique opportunity to examine Rhodes' archive, studio and design processes and to understand how she has successfully inspired fashion designers for more than fifty years.

The display features daring textiles, glamorous gowns and original sketches from both well-known and lesser-known collections. Many articles are on show for the first time, including the Conceptual Chic collection from 1977-78.

The exhibition explores Rhodes' pioneering work in the field of sustained and supported craft skill projects.   The display includes a colourful selection of embroidered, feathered and sequined dresses as well as fully-beaded garments made in India at a sustained craft project with support from the Indian government.  Beaded details and finishes are a trademark of Rhodes' work and these garments pay tribute to the amazing skills of these workers.

The installation features a beautifully beaded silk chiffon dress with cut-away sleeve detail in silk jersey with matching beaded hem. This is one of Rhodes' first fully-beaded garments from the Fables of the Sea Collection 1984.

Zandra Rhodes Unseen will be open from 12th July to 31st August 2013. Tickets and further information can be obtained from the Fashion and Textile Museum. The exhibition coincides with the launch of the Zandra Digital Study Collection, a joint project between the Zandra Rhodes Studio and the University for the Creative Arts (UCA). The website, supported by Jisc., has been created for use by the education community and anyone interested in contemporary design.

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