Exhibition: The Missing Thread

Spanning from the 1970s to the present day, this exhibition charts the shifting landscape of Black British culture and the unique contribution it has made to Britain’s rich fashion design history.

Black creativity has had a profound influence on British fashion and continues to be referenced to great effect, often without acknowledgement. The exhibition seeks to redress this, celebrating the unique visions and impact of a generation of trailblazing Black creatives whose contributions have been misrepresented or excluded from the story of British fashion.

Set against a backdrop of politics and culture, the show examines how Black style and creativity has evolved across the decades and in turn influenced the world of fashion through music, photography, art and design.

The exhibition tells the story of Black creativity through four distinct themes - Home, Tailoring, Performance and Nightlife - each referencing the spaces which inspired and allowed the culture of Black British fashion and design to develop on its own terms.

Rather than approaching fashion in isolation, the Black contribution to British fashion culture will be set within the broader socio-political context, placing garments alongside artworks, cultural artefacts, music, memorabilia, videos and installations. The Missing Thread concludes by spotlighting the genius of one of Britain's most influential Black fashion designers, the late Joe Casely-Hayford OBE, presenting the first ever major staging of pieces from the designer’s extensive archive.