On Thursday 13th January, our Upper Sixth Textiles students explored the V&A's latest exhibition, Bags: Inside Out. Sophie Scott gives a review of the functionality and symbolic statement of the handbag.
“Recently, as an A level Textile student, I visited the Bags: Inside Out exhibition at the V&A, which is a short history of bags as told through 40 highlights from Louis Vuitton luggage to iconic ‘It bags’ owned by celebrities such as Kate Moss, politicians such as Margaret Thatcher and historical/ cultural examples from Asia and Europe. It was really interesting how they grouped the bags into sections: Function and Utility, Design and Making, Status and identity etc. and I enjoyed reading the rationale behind these groupings.
“As an A Level student who wants to go on to study textiles, this gave me lots of ideas for potential briefs. Highlights of the trip also included visiting other areas of the museum, including the fashion gallery and jewellery section. It was really nice to have some inspiration for my own particular direction and I was able to take lots of photos that I can now present in my sketchbook alongside my own idea development.”
Miss Nelson (Art and Textiles Teacher) added: “The Bags: Inside Out exhibition explored the style, function, design and craftsmanship of the accessory. Highlights included: Emily Jo Gibbs’ Horse chestnut Bag, Judith Leiber’s (1983) ‘Faberge Egg’ evening bag and Tracey Emin’s Woman’s’ International Suitcase (2004) for Longchamp, alongside bags by Coco Chanel, Fendi, Stella McCartney and Mulberry. Through this fascinating exhibition, the students had the opportunity to explore these designers’ unique creative journeys and were able to appreciate how an idea or design concept is translated into a final resolved outcome and the processes involved in the making. It was a super day and the students have come back to the textile studios brimming with ideas to develop their own textile responses into creative outcomes. Watch this space…”
Find out more about this fascinating exhibition here.
