The 2016 Costume Institute special exhibit kickstarted with the star studded, Anna Wintour hosted Met Gala and was themed – Manus x Machina: Fashion in an Age of Technology.
This meticulously curated exhibit was a design & style lover’s delight and featured the work of fashion’s visionaries like Hussein Chalayan, Issey Miyake, Karl Lagerfeld, Iris van Herpen, Maison Martin Margela, Alexander McQueen and many more.
The confluence of technology and couture was fascinating, as was the display of unique pieces juxtaposing the old and the new. The exhibition skilfully explores the aspects of couture like embroidery, leather work, feather artistry and pleating to put it simplistically. Amidst all of this are fine explorations of each aspect with new age technology like 3D printing. For me this was a wonderful melange of textures, created by both hand & machine.
My Favourite pieces were the Gareth Pugh dresses made with plastic straws, Issey Miyake’s iconic pleated ensembles, Iris van Herpen’s futuristic creations and Hussein Chalayan’s gold remote control dress.
So if you are curious about the future of fashion this exhibit might have some clues into the amazing possibilities.
PS: The Metropolitan Museum of Art, is a must visit on a trip to New York City, especially for art & history loves. Check out the special exhibits showing at the time of your visit here.
