By Miss Thompson (Textiles Teacher)

On Tuesday 11th October, the Years 11 and Upper Sixth Textiles students visited the V&A as part of their research for the coursework component for both GCSE and A Level.

The students explored the diverse range of design, pattern, jewellery, theatre and clothing on display at the museum. They were immersed in the display of fashion, spanning five centuries and showcasing rare 17th century gowns, 18th century ‘mantua’ dresses, 1930s evening wear, 1960s daywear and post-war couture.  

The V&A also has one of the finest and most comprehensive collections of jewellery in the world, and the costumes from the Theatre & Performance collections were exciting and inspiring for the students to see.   

Students were able to visit specific areas of the museum they felt directly linked to their chosen individual areas of focus, allowing them to see exciting and relevant work first hand and helping them to explore the assessment criteria.

The day was both fun and informative, and an opportunity to learn about artists and designers and gain valuable inspiration for their coursework.

Gam (Year 11) reflected on the trip: “The visit to the V&A was an eye-opening opportunity that allowed us to gather physical inspiration, by capturing photos of compositions, to support the themes of our project. Additionally, the museum had a vast collection of exhibits, therefore, there were pieces that catered to a variety of our themes. For me, the contemporary glass correlated closely to my theme of water as the shaped vases conveyed movement and flow. Overall, the trip was a valuable experience as we all gained a new outlook on the world of textiles.”