Fabricating Fashion

Fabricating Fashion celebrates the artistry and rich legacy of an extraordinary range of fabrics for clothing from around the world.

The decorative fabrics presented in this Art Institute of Chicago exhibition were specifically intended for clothing and meant to be worn in a particular way or made into a certain type of garment.

A number of techniques showcased in this presentation—such as dying, embroidery, printing, and weaving—are practiced globally. Other materials and methods are associated with particular cultures: Indian cotton, Chinese silk, French embroidery, West African indigo, among them.

Fabricating Fashion will be on view Aug. 20, 2022–Jan. 2, 2023.