Vivienne Westwood, one of the stalwarts of British fashion, has brought her latest archival display to the world with the touring exhibition Vivienne Westwood & Jewellery. After launching the tour in New Zealand in January, it has kicked off its Asia leg, marking the brand’s first-ever Asian travelling exhibition. The first stop of the Vivienne Westwood travelling exhibition: Taikoo Li Qiantan in Shanghai, China.
The exhibition is also the first archival exhibition dedicated to the fashion house’s 40 years of runway jewellery. The brand uses jewellery as the thread for its narrative, which tells the story of aesthetic and cultural changes in its designs, reflecting the past 40 years.
Using various themes across 8 rooms, the exhibition is showcased through a combination of video, audio and interactive installations to build an immersive and visceral experience for viewers. From Westwood’s early days in London’s Portobello Road Market to runway icons from the 80s, the displays include many of the house’s signature designs, such as the armour ring and its iconic Saturn (“The Orb”) necklace.
A pop-up store has been set up during the exhibition, which runs until 29 August. Visitors can purchase limited edition accessories, jewellery, as well as exclusive scarves and t-shirts from the shop. Alongside a special café, there is also a giant Saturn installation for visitors’ “check-in” (打卡) needs at the Vivienne Westwood Shanghai exhibition.
Vivienne Westwood CEO Carlo D’Amario said at the opening that the exhibition is the brand’s way to convey, through the display, that it is more than a fashion house but also a jewellery powerhouse. Jewellery and watch brands are tapping into the “experience economy” in China by hosting exhibitions. It looks like Vivienne Westwood is embracing the trend as well.
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