A fashion show for the rest of us. Forget haute couture and the runways of New York or Paris. A person could actually wear these clothes. Real people.
Real people can buy these clothes as well, direct from the designers, at the 46th Annual Philadelphia Museum of Art Craft Show November 11-13. The event, held in-person at the Pennsylvania Convention Center, features an art to wear fashion show, “Real Looks: Simple to Sizzling,” taking place at 1 PM on Saturday the 12th with clothing and accessories created by artists included in this year’s presentation.
“Fiber Wearable” is one of 13 categories of fine craft highlighted at the Show along with ceramics, furniture, jewelry, wood, metal, glass and more.
If mention of the word “craft” brings to mind old-timey creations from the late 19th century Arts and Crafts Movement – a response to the Industrial Revolution – dark, frumpy garments, heavy, wooden furniture, butter churns, clunky shoes and dusty antique shoppes, think again.
“Within the category of ‘Fiber Wearable,’ clothing and art to wear have evolved to be more sophisticated, tailored and sustainable,” Philadelphia Museum of Art Craft Show Manager Nancy O’Meara told Forbes.com. “Artists are adding a variety of materials – there is more of a use of found items, repurposing and recycling, i.e. yarn, fabric, glass, clay, etc. and incorporating or remaking into new forms.”