V & A Exhibitions: The Future Starts Here, and, Fashioned Through Nature

Recently, I visited two exhibitions at the V&A, both thought provoking and interesting in equal measure.

The first called, The Future Starts Here, explored 100 objects shaping the future of technology and humans’ relationship to it.

As you enter, you are greeted by various types of technology designed to aid daily life, such as robots who do the laundry, to pioneering prosthetics and surveillance devices. Some of these seem relatively commonplace nowadays, whereas others still seem slightly sinister, as though part of a dystopian film version of the future.

One of the questions posed by the 'Future Starts Here' Exhibition.

As you progress throughout the exhibition, you experience possibilities for driverless cars, and are presented with technological solutions for many of the issues facing the world today, from global warming, to political disharmony and conflict.

The exhibition asks questions such as, ‘Will your home be run by AI?’ and, ‘Does democracy still work?’ and attempts to answer parts of these questions using examples such as the recent Women’s march demonstrations, in protest against gender inequality. It shows how technology can be used as a force for good, to galvanise populations into mass action.

I think the parts of the exhibition I found most inspiring were showcases of instances where technology has been used to crowdfund large scale projects, such as a bridge built by citizens in Rotterdam. This is an example of people coming together to create something for the benefit of the community, and in doing so establishing a sense of pride and ownership of their environment. As well as this, examples of technological advancements in medicine show the positive impact technology can have on people’s lives.

It was a really interesting exhibition showcasing that we have the power to harness technology for good, but emphasising the need to balance technology with real-world action, and not let it overpower our lives.

Following on from this, I saw the Fashioned from Nature exhibition. This charted the influence of nature on fashion from the 1600s to the present day.

Exploring how nature has been used both to inspire and enhance garment production for centuries, it investigated the use of fur and ivory in many popular fashion trends, the use of animal products for dyeing, feathers for embellishment, even showing a dress from the 1800s embellished with beetle wings.

It was fascinating to see historical examples of how nature has been commandeered for the sake of fashion, however what I found most interesting was towards the end of the exhibition, where examples of modern fashion influenced by and considerate of nature were on display.

This outfit was designed by Katie Jones. She uses materials otherwise destined for landfill to create her bright and joyful garments.

This paper t-shirt was created by scientists and designers in Sweden and Britain. The paper is finsihed with natural dyes and laser sufacing and can be worn several times. There are endless possibilities for consumers to design their own clothing through using unusual materials like paper.

Here, there were garments designed by Vivienne Westwood, Helen storey and Stella McCartney among others, all champions of sustainability and protecting the environment through pioneering fashion design. With spotlights on dyeing processes which use less water, to careful waste management to protect the oceans, it was really inspiring to see that so many leading designers take seriously the responsibility of conscientious, sustainable design.

Two outfits designed by Helen Storey, a champion of sustainable design, using Tencel fabric developed in the 1980s, which recovers a non-toxic solvent used in the spinning process so it can be reused.

An outfit designed by Dries van Noten, which uses an 18th century print of an idealised version of Europe, reflecting responses to nature centuries apart.