Zandra Rhodes launches a digital world first collection

The Fashion and Textile Museum was host last night to the launch party of the Zandra Rhodes Digital Study Collection. Zandra Rhodes was joined by Joanna Lumley to officially launch this huge project.

The website is the first of its kind and has around 500 pieces of Rhodes’ work catalogued for anyone to view. There are several photographs of each piece showing the detailing as well as the whole garment. Alongside these photographs are over 1000 pages of Rhodes’ drawings, giving you an insight into the production of the pieces.

The database is open source, meaning you don’t need to pay or have certain credentials to use it, anyone can access it. This resource will be invaluable to students and designers especially, who will be able to conduct detailed research from anywhere in the world.

On the collection and preservation of the pieces, Rhodes said they wanted to “really make sure that these treasures are remembered and saved for posterity and now they’re going to go on the web for different colleges all over the world to be able to study, so I’m really thrilled that this has happened”.

Joanna Lumley launched the event with some beautiful words about her friend and the collection: “I think that when we are all stone dead and everybody has forgotten our names, you won’t be forgotten. And it’s not just because we are able to access these stunning things, so well done UCA for capturing these… It’s so important for students to be able to look at HOW things are done. And we all know that it’s the hard graft and the late nights and the stitching and the broken nail and fingers and the two hours of sleep. THAT’S the way things are done, not with hairy fairy sketches. But to see the work and the dreams behind everything, these images and your clothes are going to define a time when we’re just little curled up Macintoshes darling. So I’m so proud to know you and everybody here is thrilled to bits to know you. This extraordinary digital study collection, words we’ve never heard put together before, is now launched in the presence of its great creator, Zandra Rhodes.”

The collection is a testament to Rhodes and her tireless efforts in fashion and education. The setting was the perfect place, as she personally launched the Fashion and Textile Museum and continues a long-held connection to UCA. 

Indra Wignall
Photos: Indra Wignall

The Zandra Rhodes Digital Study Collection can be found here.

Zandra Rhodes Unseen Exhibit will run from 12^th July until 31^st August at the Fashion and Textile Museum, displaying dresses, garments and accessories crafted by Rhodes herself.