Fashion in Motion is a series of live catwalk events presented at the V&A Museum in London. This year, Fashion in Motion will feature the work of British menswear designer John Alexander Skelton. Tickets available here.
Fashion in Motion is a public event held at the museum since 1999. It offers the public a glimpse into the staging of shows by new and established designers - The event has showcased the work of international designers Alexander McQueen (1999), Arkadius (2000), Issey Miyake (2001), Central St Martins Graduates (2002), Missoni (2003), Vivienne Westwood (2004), Ozwald Boateng (2005), Giles Deacon & Erdem (2009), Jenny Packham (2013) and most recently Peter Pilotto (2015) and Christopher Raeburn (2016) and more.
John Alexander Skelton is a York-born menswear designer and Central Saint Martins MA graduate. His work is inspired the 20th-century socio-political history of the mill industry of his homeland.
His recent show during London Fashion Week 2018 will be the key point for the Fashion in Motion presentation. It's a collection of heavily overlaid garments that are infused with English folk traditions: Skelton draws on characters and stage plays from 19th-century folk theatre; his characters dance in a wassailing fashion inspired by the medieval drinking ritual intended to ensure a good cider apple harvest. Expect to see a dramatically dark and bold stripped palette of fabrics featuring long coats, tweed waistcoats, high waisted trousers, button-up cardigans and braces.
John's 2018 collection features recycled fabrics, customised through hand-dying, painting and patching. He often acquires second-hand materials via markets, repurposing antique bed sheets, curtains and farm textiles into unique garments.
Throughout his career, John has called for important changes in the fashion industry, championing sustainable and ethical working practices. His efforts reflect the work being done by organisations such as Eco-Age where sustainable materials, working methods and artisanal revival combine to promote more socio-political consciousness in the industry.
I want it to be taken as a given that my work is sustainable, regardless of what it takes to conceive it. Also, sustainability shouldn’t be used as a marketing scheme to make more profit from the guilt-ridden consumers.
John Alexander Skelton - From an interview by Dazed Magazine.
John Alexander Skelton was awarded the Lee Alexander McQueen Foundation's Sarabande scholarship in 2016. John shares insights into his work and time at Sarabande in the video above.
John Alexander Skelton | Fashion in Motion at the V&A
V& MUSEUM - Raphael Gallery - Friday 23 March 2018 at 15.00, 17.00 and 20.00
Tickets are free and available from 10 am on Monday the 20th of March 2018.
Photography by Ryan Skelton