EXCITING NEW EXHIBITION AT HAT WORKS

Stockport Council run Hat Works Museum launched its latest exhibition entitled ‘Redesigning Fashion – How to Change the World in Style’.

This exhibition, guest-curated by Yorkshire-based milliner Sharon Bainbridge, explores fashion from the ‘make do and mend’ 1940s to the present day. The exhibition explores fashion from an era when being creative with very few materials was both stylish and necessary. The results are compared and contrasted with the contemporary sustainable fashion scene where ecological and ethical principles are combined with new concepts.

The exhibition features work from Mumbai-based installation artist, milliner and fashion stylist Shilpa Chavan who is behind the global brand Little Shilpa, Elsa Cappelli Hats, Upcycling milliner Jane Fryers, and fashion designer Lizzie Harrison of Antiform.

Councillor Iain Roberts, Stockport Council’s Executive Member for Economic Development and Regeneration, said: “This is a wonderful exhibition featuring work form some of the leading names in sustainable fashion. I would encourage people to come along to Hat Works to enjoy this fascinating exhibition.” Sharon Bainbridge , said: “This is my third exhibition as Guest Curator and each has been very different.

Redesigning Fashion was suggested by the Curatorial Team to coincide with the Cockleshell Heroes exhibition at Staircase House in Stockport. A way to examine the hats of the era and the ethos of make do and mend which has been taken on board once again in these austere times. “As a milliner and designer looking at sustainability is very important, yet the perceptions of the buyer as to what this means often need clarifying. I hope that this exhibition will highlight the variety of opportunities within sustainable design and show that you can still be ahead of fashion yet be helping the environment.”

The exhibition runs until 7th July and admission is free.

Hat Works is open Tuesday to Saturday, from 10.00am to 5.00pm, Sundays and Bank Holidays, from 11.00am to 5.00pm.

For more information, visit www.stockport.gov.uk/hatworks or phone 0161 474 2400.