In Our Nature
Harper's Bazaar India|June 2018

From mother-of -pearl buttons to feather-trimmed millinery, the natural world has long been at the heart of our sartorial expression, as a new exhibition at the V&A reveals

Catriona Gray
In Our Nature

Last year, it was announced that the only known surviving fragment of Queen Elizabeth I’s wardrobe had been discovered. The intricately embroidered skirt, sewn with gold thread, had been made into an altar cloth and lay undisturbed for centuries in a quiet Herefordshire church. Covered in roses, daffodils, and a menagerie of animals, insects, and caterpillars, this exquisite relic is a testament to how nature was such an intrinsic part of life that even its humblest creatures were elevated into decorative symbols to adorn the costliest of royal fabric.

Humans have always relied upon the environment for survival, but it is easy to forget that it is also the source of the clothes that we wear. In the past, this connection was acknowledged and even celebrated, but our increasing detachment from the natural world makes it harder to appreciate that the most luxurious pieces of couture are still made from the simplest of materials. This rich and unexpected history, from the early 17 th century to the present day, is the subject of a major new exhibition at the V&A.

Fashioned from Nature charts the complex and ever evolving relationship between our clothes and the environment. It reflects the inspiration that fashion has always drawn from flora and fauna, and the industry’s impact on nature, these two strands combining to reveal how our own attitudes have altered over the course of several hundred years.

“Previously, people really understood where their clothes came from and valued that knowledge,” says the V&A curator Edwina Ehrman. “Even in my own childhood in the 1950s, your ‘best’ garments were cherished and cared for. They lasted for years—they would be mended and preserved and handed down. They were prized possessions.”

هذه القصة مأخوذة من طبعة June 2018 من Harper's Bazaar India.

ابدأ النسخة التجريبية المجانية من Magzter GOLD لمدة 7 أيام للوصول إلى آلاف القصص المتميزة المنسقة وأكثر من 9,000 مجلة وصحيفة.

هذه القصة مأخوذة من طبعة June 2018 من Harper's Bazaar India.

ابدأ النسخة التجريبية المجانية من Magzter GOLD لمدة 7 أيام للوصول إلى آلاف القصص المتميزة المنسقة وأكثر من 9,000 مجلة وصحيفة.

المزيد من القصص من HARPER'S BAZAAR INDIA مشاهدة الكل
Unyielding And Unmatched
Harper's Bazaar India

Unyielding And Unmatched

In an industry where every move is scrutinised, Kareena Kapoor Khan lives passionately, loves her job, and understands that there’s more to her than just box-office numbers.

time-read
10+ mins  |
September 2024
SEEN AND HEARD
Harper's Bazaar India

SEEN AND HEARD

Female authors explore how crucial it is that women write about their personal experiences.

time-read
4 mins  |
September 2024
INTO THE WORLD OF JUDY CHICAGO
Harper's Bazaar India

INTO THE WORLD OF JUDY CHICAGO

What makes the feminist trailblazer an icon?

time-read
3 mins  |
September 2024
'THE LEGACY OF A SINGER WILL ALWAYS STAY INTACT'
Harper's Bazaar India

'THE LEGACY OF A SINGER WILL ALWAYS STAY INTACT'

AR Rahman believes AI can be used without compromising on the artistic essence.

time-read
3 mins  |
September 2024
THROUGH HER EYES
Harper's Bazaar India

THROUGH HER EYES

Indian supermodels remember legendary photographer Prabuddha Dasgupta ahead of his 68th birth anniversary.

time-read
4 mins  |
September 2024
THE SHAPE-SHIFTERS
Harper's Bazaar India

THE SHAPE-SHIFTERS

From adorning your body to your mantle piece, jewellery designers are turning to homeware.

time-read
3 mins  |
September 2024
WEARABLE ART
Harper's Bazaar India

WEARABLE ART

Three limited-edition timepieces, inspired by Gaston-Louis Vuitton's love for artistry, is an ode to the Maison's legacy of craftsmanship.

time-read
2 mins  |
September 2024
AS LONG AS TIME
Harper's Bazaar India

AS LONG AS TIME

Bazaar India delves into the ethos of watch brands.

time-read
3 mins  |
September 2024
MILANO MAKEOVER
Harper's Bazaar India

MILANO MAKEOVER

Sabato De Sarno's reimagination of this classic Gucci bag is is an ode to his Milanese becoming.

time-read
1 min  |
September 2024
A LOVE LETTER TO JAIPUR
Harper's Bazaar India

A LOVE LETTER TO JAIPUR

Designer Surily Goel reveals the making of her latest collection.

time-read
2 mins  |
September 2024