Fabrics of Feathers and Steel: The Innovation of Nuno
October 17, 2009 - April 11, 2010
The worldwide success of Japanese fashion designers owes much to the talented textile designers and manufacturers who enable their creative visions. Led by artistic director and co-founder Reiko Sudo, Nuno (meaning "functional fabric" in Japanese) integrates the techniques, materials and aesthetics of traditional Japanese textiles with cutting-edge technologies in order to creat some of the world's most innovative and influential fabrics. Experimenting with an eclectic array of materials ranging from stainless steel and aluminum to bamboo and bird feathers, as well as unorthodox finishing methods, such as burnishing, burning, and chemical dissolving, Reiko Sudo and her team have broadened the parameters of contemporary textile design.
The exhibition will feature 18 examples from the Nuno studio, dating from the time of the company's founding in 1984 to the present day. The fabrics will be hung in galleries adjacent to the showing of Contemporary Japanese Fashion: The Collection of Mary Baskett, inviting visitors to experience the design process from start to finish - from structure to style.