The Glamour of Italian Fashion 1945 -2014

A showcase to be adored by many and clothing desired by thousands, the Victoria and Albert Museum’s spring exhibition 'The Glamour of Italian Fashion 1945-2014' is now open to the public! proportion>london produced an array of mannequins for this first major exhibition charting Italy's most influential designers, from post-world war II until the present day. Telling the story of how Italian fashion has added to the country's reputation for high quality and style, this show radiates glamour and beauty. On display are 120 ensembles and accessories from leading fashion houses including; Dolce and Gabbana, Giorgio Armani, Gucci, Versace, Prada and Pucci. Within the exhibition, the elixir of Italian culture is illustrated through a series of traditional manufacturing techniques, such as spinning, weaving, cutting and stitching, some of which have been practised across the Italian landscape for hundreds of years. For proportion>london, traditional artisan skill is something that sits deeply within their roots, and is applied frequently throughout their manufacturing process. However, for this particular project, proportion>london required a modern day approach to produce the perfect mannequins for this exhibition. For some of the clothing on display, the Textile Conservation team at the V&A used proportion>london’s female mannequin collection FLUID as a starting point, which were then customised. Using their combined creative skills, the Proportion and V&A teams worked closely together on development of the exhibition display figures. In having bespoke adjustments made to the FLUID mannequin, a piece of cost effective kit was formed that was essential for this project, and will prove useful for future V&A exhibitions. One mannequin which in particular required alterations to enable versatility of display, is the figure that wears a Pucci shirt and tights, and stands alongside the Italian’s iconic form of transport; the Vespa. Produced with discreet armature wire arms and fibreglass hands, this specialist figure could be placed in the desired pose, with no stress applied to the clothing. For other garments such as a figure-hugging Gucci lycra dress, the FLUID mannequin needed to have re-shaped bust and hip dimensions in order for the outfit to fit precisely. Although the country may currently be suffering an economic downturn, this exhibition showcases Italy’s famously refined style and sparks an exciting thought about what is in store for the future of Italian Fashion.