The National Museum of Women in the Arts in Washington DC opened last week the first exhibition dedicated to fashion in the museum's history. And to make a splash at this debut, the chosen brand was Rodarte, led by Californian designers Kate and Laura Mulleavy. The exhibition showcases the sisters’ visionary concepts, impeccable craftsmanship and profound impact on the fashion industry.
"We are honored to be the first designers to have a fashion exhibition curated by the
National Museum of Women in the Arts ," said Kate and Laura Mulleavy. The exhibition explores the distinct design principles and recurring themes that position the Mulleavys’ work within the context of contemporary art and fashion. Spanning Rodarte’s first 13 years, 90 complete looks are part of the exhibition, highlighting selections from the most important collections. .
Through a conceptual blend of high fashion and modern femininity, employing a multiplicity of textiles and meticulous sewing techniques, Rodarte has been critically acclaimed from both the art and fashion worlds since its creation in 2005. "Rodarte promotes a dialogue between the worlds of contemporary art and fashion,” explains museum director Susan Fisher Sterling. “This exhibition discusses just that.”
“The exhibition celebrates the Mulleavy sisters’ pioneering approach and explores their use of storytelling to convey complex thoughts on a wide range of subjects, including film, literature, art history, nature and the California landscape,” adds curator Jill D' Alessandro.
“Rodarte” is on display at the
National Museum of Women in the Arts in Washington through February 10, 2019.
