Luxury womenswear brand Le Kilt and experimental design consultancy NORN host an exhibition and workshop at The Michael Hoppen Gallery to explore the reappropriation of traditional materials through craftsmanship and its relationship to punk subculture. The opening night event includes discussions with industry stalwarts as well as a Le Kilt pop-up retail space.
The exhibition features a series of installations that look at the relationship between punk and tradition in the context of craftsmanship. Le Kilt works with small-scale manufacturers to create their version of the modern woman’s uniform, whilst also adding new and unexpected design details such as hand-woven patches made from yarn spun in-house. Similarly, NORN places making and the haptic at the heart of its process; exploring the scope of making beyond conventional expectation of hand skills.Innovation Through Tradition also considers ideas surrounding education – how independent learning and research can lead to experimentation in handcraft. Visitors are given the opportunity to participate in a workshop where they can utilise practical making to apply their own personal story onto a garment or textile.
Le Kilt is a fashion brand that creates traditional pieces inspired by founder, Samantha McCoach’s Scottish heritage. Launched in 2014 with a single classic kilt style made by Samantha’s Italian grandmother, who made kilts in Edinburgh for over 40 years, Le Kilt has since grown to include other product categories such as knitwear, denim and accessories. Firmly rooted in punk and DIY subculture, Le Kilt uses the subversion of heritage to create something new and unexpected. Using small-scale manufacturers from across the UK, Le Kilt aims to act as a proponent of sustainability and to introduce traditional craftsmanship to a modern audience.
Dates: 9th – 12th May 2018
Part of London Craft Week
Text & images Le Kilt & NORN
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