Alexander McQueen Unlocking Stories Exhibition

At the start of the year, the new Alexander McQueen store opened at 27 Old Bond Street, moving into a larger space to house their growing collections. Although the store has a sleek aesthetic and is a joy to look around, it is the unique addition of an archive exhibition on the 2^nd floor that is arguably the most interesting. Displays of drawings, sketches, samples, fitting notes, patterns, paper models and garments fill the space and give a unique view of how the team at McQueen build and develop their collections. Archive pieces from the Voss and it’s only a Game collections have been brought out of storage and are available to view close up, and large photographs showcase the techniques used in the garments from recent collections that are displayed on stands.


The exhibition space aims to help fashion students and industry followers understand more about the design process, how a collection is developed and the creative methods that are employed at the brand. This is the first company to actively show elements of their archive to the public, and when I spoke to an archive assistant on my visit, she said that the reason they’re doing it is because they believe that it’s important that students understand the process and craftsmanship that goes into building a collection. As a lecturer, I also think this is really important. A collection cannot be built from one piece of inspiration or one experimental sample. It takes a range of ideas and techniques, such as what is on show at McQueen to build a cohesive and desirable range of pieces.

One of the most interesting elements that I discussed with the archive assistant was the creation and development of the Ophelia dress. The idea originated from a Victorian silk wedding dress that had been passed down through the generations of a family from Devon. The dress was scanned in and floral still-life images were overlaid over the scan. This was then generated into a print and used as the fabric for a dress in the AW2012 collection. To see the dress in person, at first glance it is difficult to see the original dress in the print, but on closer inspection, the detail and structure of the vintage dress can be seen. You can read more about the Ophelia dress on the McQueen website here: https://www.alexandermcqueen.com/experience/en/alexander-mcqueen-unlocking-stories-ophelia-dress/

I personally found the visit extremely enjoyable. I was able to look at the detail and cut of the garments close up, take photos and see how the brand works. I am always interested in how garments are cut and constructed, and found this exhibition highlighted this excellently. I happened to visit this on the same day as the Dior exhibition and found that although I enjoyed the show at the V&A, the organic display, varied content and close-up experience made the McQueen archive a highlight of a great fashion-filled day. 

McQueen are aiming to continue to display elements of their archive, making a change every 4 months or so. Sign up to their newsletter to get more information about any upcoming changes to the exhibition. You can read more about some of the pieces on show here: https://www.alexandermcqueen.com/experience/en/category/stories/