Luxury in Fashion RECONSIDERED

Luxury:Why has fashion always been attracted to and so closely associated with it?

Examining fashion from the standpoint of luxury, this exhibition considers the relationship between luxury and fashion in different societies and eras, from the 17th century to the present, and explores new directions for the future.

The growth of the industrial economy has brought a wealth of material blessings into our lives, but has also confronted us with some challenging global issues. Under these circumstances people do not necessarily share the same view of luxury, which is one of the manifestations of this affluence. Views range from the perception of luxury in terms of visually luxurious and lavish expressions, to a take on luxury that is more individualistic, more of an intellectual pleasure. For this exhibition, we use the concept of ´luxury´ as a vantage point from which to take a new look at fashion—the most sensitive indicator of our values and social trends.

Following on from Japonism in Fashion (1994), Visions of the Body (1999), and Fashion in Colors (2004), Luxury in fashion Reconsidered is a cutting-edge fashion exhibition, addressing the theme of luxury from a variety of perspectives by presenting 17th century to present-day fashions, carefully selected from the collection of the Kyoto Costume Institute (KCI).