MuseumDesign.Asia was invited along to the opening of the Victoria & Albert Museum’s (V&A) Vivienne Westwood exhibition, A Life In Fashion (thanks to Fred of Sugar Design). Sponsored by Swire Properties the V&A (one of the world’s foremost art and design museums), the exhibition brings more than 140 dress and clothing designs of the high priestess of Punk, and 70 objects from the V&A collection, as well as Westwood’s personal archive.

According to Mr Stephan Spurr, Director and General Manager of Swire Properties, “This is the first time in Hong Kong that an exhibition has been dedicated to a globally influential fashion designer and in the hope that the general public will embrace this showcase of the lively, thought-provoking, unconventional and outrageously elegant, we are offering admission to the exhibition free of charge.”

Re-engineered into the exhibition space by Marc & Chantal Design, the exhibition is broadly divided into 2 zones – ‘The Early Years’ and ‘Maturity’ – organised under 26 themes, encompassing the designer’s works from the 1970’s to the 21st century. Artifacts include the iconic ‘Destroy’ T-shirt and the famous blue mock-croc platform shoes which Naomi Campbell wore when she fell on the catwalk in 1993.

It was great to see such a world-class showcase of design come to Hong Kong. Any fashion student could get a lifetime’s inspiration from this collection.

Almost as exciting was to see the ArtisTree space in Cornwall House, Taikoo Place, for the first time. It’s a space that deserves this calibre of event.

The V&A website has an excellent overview of the exhibition including 360 degree views. The exhibition continues until 31st January 2009 at ArtisTree, 3/F Cornwall House, Taikoo Place, Island East.