Why do you think the curators included it in the exhibition?
The design item that I chose from the exhibition is a Lolita dress by H.Naoto and it is from Japan in 2008. Since this exhibition is called ‘The 50 years of The Museum at FIT’, therefore it separates different fashion clothing and item that is most inspiring. As I have written the subculture of Lolita and it is the wide-spread globally from Asia, as a result, it becomes one of the important fashion design that influences many people. Furthermore, it is placed beside Comme des Garcon, therefore it shows the similarities between them.
What contribution does it make to our collective understanding of fashion history and fashion’s place in the museum setting?
As in most fashion history books, there are fewer pieces of information about the Asian fashion world. So in this exhibition, it places more than just globally well-known Asian designer in the Western world, however cultural fashion designs, which shows the viewers different countries’ fashion. As in lecture, we discuss how media spreads fashion quickly, therefore this exhibition simulates as a press that shows people the diversity of fashion. Lolita is a globally known Asian subculture, which allows this permanent display to spread more about the culture for understanding and shows the people who are interested in more real experiences. It makes our understanding not only more diverse but also what we have learned in the classes and the reading that knowing the different reasons and background which makes a person who wears/chose their style of clothing. Lolita, in this case, is not 100% accepted by some people, which makes this display have its meaning and its significance reason why it is on display. It allows the viewer to have a closer look and see the transition of fashion style which produces one another. Lastly, to appreciate the details and handworks of the dress-piece.
Object label for Gothic Lolita, 2008. Exhibitionism: “The 50 years of The Museum at FIT” at Fashion Institute of Technology, New York, NY. Seen on: February 13, 2018.
