To Dye For Exhibit at the de Young

Woman's chapan robe, c. 1860-1870, Uzbekistan, Bukhara silk

It’s everywhere in the design world these days: Ikat fabrics of every color, pattern, and variety. As true ikats and the look of ikat patterns have entered the market we’ve seen them on pillows, upholsteries, carpets, coats, pants, dresses, and even shoes. As trends go, the synergies between home and fashion are among the strongest, with both industries sharing stylistic cross-over in texture, design details, and fabrications. But what are the roots of the trend? Where does it come from?

In an effort to trace the roots of this current trend and give it some context, the de Young museum is showing an exhibit entitled To Dye For: A World Saturated in Color. Uniting all different types of resist-dye techniques: Mordant-Resist, Batik, Stitch-Resist, Ikat, Shibori, and Tie-Dye, the show draws from local collections and the de Young’s own archives to dig deeper into the artistry and heritage of these textiles.

Oscar de la Renta, Trench Coat, 2005, silk

Textile curator Jill D’Alessandro sourced pieces from around the globe to highlight how cultures everywhere have used similar techniques for centuries, but with varying results. D’Alessandro admits that this exhibition is her particular area of expertise; during a course of study in Indonesia years ago, she fell in love with traditional resist techniques. This show shares her keen understanding of the different textiles, and clearly illustrates their significance in today’s design world. Pulling the focus back to the present day, fashion pieces from Rodarte and Oscar de la Renta are also included in the exhibit, showing how the traditional dye processes still hold a place in our modern style culture. In the case of the de la Renta coat from 2005, it’s shown next to an Uzbek chapan from the late 19^th Century; the similarities between the two are striking. Other pieces in the exhibit date from the 15^th Century, up through 2010, providing a rich background for print patterns we may now take for granted.

For anyone who loves fashion, home design, and wants to learn more about an important trend, (one that’s been in fashion for centuries,) then the To Dye For exhibit is for you!

Comments

[WendyB]

I would be willing to KILL for that trench.