Cloak and Dagger: Design Espionage

Printer's Sample Book, American, 1870, from the Multiple Choice Exhibition, currently on view

Tonight (Tuesday March 18) at Cooper-Hewitt:

Cloak and Dagger: Design Espionage

"In past centuries sample books served to record patterns and motifs used in decorative arts and were carefully guarded by manufacturers against espionage attempts from competitors. In this panel, held in conjunction with Multiple Choice: From Sample to Product. Cooper-Hewitt invites you to join intellectual property lawyer Harley Lewin, and Susan Posen, CEO of Zac Posen, in a conversation with Eric Wilson of The New York Times on how designers strive to protect their work in a knock-off culture."

The event takes place at 6: 30 Members and students with valid ID: $5; non-Members: $10.

Nieves Library at Ooga Booga

The LA concept store and art space Ooga Booga is presenting a one-month exhibibition of artists' books and zines published by the Swiss publisher Nieves. Alongside books and zines by the Zurich-based publisher in the main shop, there will be a zine reading room in a temporary annex across the hall, where one can find rare and out-of-print titles by many Nieves-related artists. The exhibition, which opens Thursday March 6th, will be open through April 3rd.

While there, don't forget to look through Ooga Booga's otherwise vast collection of rare fashion and art books and zines, as well as their great selection of clothes and accessories by Susan Cianciolo, Bless, Opening Ceremony and many others.

Francesca

Breaking the Mode

Hussein Chalayan, Dress from the "Medea" Collection, spring/ summer 2002

A number of fashion exhibitions are taking place in the US outside of New York’s confines. "Breaking the Mode: Contemporary Fashion from the Permanent Collection, Los Angeles County Museum of Art" is opening March 16th at the Indianapolis Museum of Art, where it will be on view through June 1st.

The exhibition, which includes iconic pieces from a number of contemporary designers (for the most part Europeans and Japanese) attest to the LACMA's thorough collecting policy. The exhibit sets out to examine "designers who have challenged the canons of the body’s fashionable silhouette, revolutionized methods of garment construction, rejected the formulaic use of materials and techniques, and exploited new technology in textile production. Among the more than 40 international designers whose work will be exhibited are Jean-Paul Gaultier, Rei Kawakubo, Martin Margiela, Issey Miyake, Thierry Mugler and Yohiji Yamamoto, with historical examples by Gilbert Adrian, Christian Dior and Charles James."

Francesca

Social Fabrics

Teresa Almeida, Modes for Urban Moods.

If in Dallas for the CAA Meeting this February, don't miss Social Fabrics. A time-based exhibition on the relation between Wearables, Media and Interconnectivity, it is curated by Susan Ryan and Patrick Lichty and developed around the trope of the fashion show. Supported by the Leonardo Education Forum, it includes an impressive array of practioners from the design and art fields. Above is one the pieces included: An inflatable garment designed as "a coping mechanism" by Teresa Almeida, it has been worn by the artist in performances in crodwed public spaces, in order to explore the borders between public and private space.

Social Fabrics will take place at the Adam's Mark Hotel (400 North Olive Street, Dallas) on February 22, 2008 - 4:30 PM.

Old, New, Borrowed, Blue

“Old, New, Borrowed, Blue: Yesterday's Modern Bride" is an exhibit curated by Elyce Tetorka, in occasion of The Manhattan Vintage Clothing Show, which will take place at the Metropolitan Pavillion on February 8 and 9th. The exhibition shows how wedding dresses followed the current styles of the time. The examples included span from the 1900 when art nouveau was the leading design aesthetic to a late1970s mini-maxi gown. One of the exhibition’s highlights, is a 1920s bias-cut short gown inspired by Chanel and Vionnet. For more information, visit the show’s site.