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Press Release

V&A Publishing

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Fashioned from Nature Edwina Ehrman (ed.)

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320 x 230 mm 192 pp 140 illus.

Discover more at vam.ac.uk/fashionedfromnature

£25 / £20 from the V&A Shop ISBN 9781851779451 Fashion has always sought to celebrate nature – from sumptuous silks and floral patterns, to the spectacular creations of designers such as Alexander McQueen and Christian Dior, the two have long been entwined. Yet this reverence is sometimes combined with a damaging need for raw materials. From the 17th century to the present day, Fashioned from Nature examines our dependence on the natural world and the devastating effect of certain trends, as seen in the demand for ivory, fur, skins and exotic feathers. Today, intense consumerism and fast fashion have a different impact on the world around us, and this book discusses the need for a more responsible fashion cycle. But which has the greater environmental impact – a leather handbag or a white cotton t-shirt? Consider the effects of land clearance, insecticides and water consumption – not to mention washing after every wear – and the answer may not be completely clear. Fascinating and beautifully illustrated, this book will stimulate an important and timely debate.

Editor Edwina Ehrman is a Senior Exhibition Curator at the V&A and a specialist in 19th century fashion and the history of London fashion. Her current project, Fashioned from Nature, opens at the museum in April 2018. Her previous exhibitions include Undressed: A Brief History of Underwear and Wedding Dresses 1775–2014. From 2009 – 2013 she was the lead curator for The Clothworkers' Centre for the Study and Conservation of Textiles and Fashion. Her publications include Undressed: A Brief History of Underwear (V&A Publishing, 2016), London Couture 1923–1975: British Luxury (V&A Publishing, 2015) of which she is co-editor and a contributor, and Wedding Dress: 300 Years of Bridal Fashions (V&A Publishing 2011, 2014).