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Luxury in Fashion RECONSIDERED
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This exhibition reappraises the meaning of luxury through history by presenting its diversity, and the constant change that has taken place in the perception of luxury, by dividing the exhibition into four sections, each adopting a different display format to represent different aspects of "luxury." A total of 90 garments are on display to showcase the history of luxury in fashion from the 17th Century to the present day.
Pascal declared, "to be spruce is to show one's power." One of the aims of clothing is to flaunt wealth and power. The act of adorning oneself with rare and costly materials arguably represents this eternal human desire, while history has proven that this insatiable passion for adornment has supported and nurtured craftsmen and stimulated the arts and industry.
"Ostentation," the theme of this section, focuses on garments featuring a lavish use of gold and silver thread, and sumptuous dresses representing hundreds of hours of labor and handiwork.
Although people in the past tended to favor clothing that was showy and glamorous, the tendency in the modern age has been to avoid excessive glamour, and instead to prefer simplicity. This tendency has been particularly pronounced with the current and strong demand for comfort and function in design. However, garments that are simple and yet make the wearer appear beautiful require designs that create shape, the appropriate fabrics, and outstanding skills on the part of the creator. This section showcases haute couture, the epitome of simplified design, quality, and exquisite craftsmanship as seen in Chanel's functional ensembles and Balenciaga's architectural dresses.
The special exhibit at MOT (Museum of Contemporary Art Tokyo) will feature clothing animated by the avant-garde spirit of Comme des Garçons, selected from the KCI collection and displayed in spaces designed by architect Kazuyo Sejima.
Kazuyo Sejima has achieved a revolutionary style with the use of minimal, transparent forms and materials in architectural programs that awaken connectivity with place and with users from fresh perspectives - a style she has demonstrated in the Louvre - Lens and 21st Century Museum of Contemporary Art, Kanazawa. In Sejima's spaces, the revolutionary character of Comme des Garçons will crackle with new life. Composed of transparent interlocking volumes of varying sizes where dazzling illusions of perspective depth intersect, Sejima's installation will alter viewers' perceptions of clothing and its relationship with their body.
Although everyone accepts that rarity in itself adds value, what constitutes rarity for someone may not apply to another. Even objects in everyday life can become "unique" if placed within a completely different context. This is particularly relevant in today's society, with the growing move away from mass-consumerism.
This section features one-off garments by Maison Martin Margiela that represent contemporary concepts of luxury, such as "one-off," "recyclability," and "hand-made. "
80 pieces from the Kyoto Costume Institute
8 pieces from Maison Martin Margiela / Kokonoe Co., Ltd.
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