Untying the Bow at The Museum at FIT
The School of Graduate Studies at the Fashion Institute of Technology (FIT), in collaboration with The Museum at FIT (MFIT), presents Untying the Bow, a new exhibition conceived of and organised by graduate students in the college’s Fashion and Textiles Studies: History, Theory, Museum Practice program. The exhibition invites viewers to delve into the captivating world of bows and explores the impact of bows as they transcended their humble utilitarian origins to become a sophisticated and influential component of personal style.
Untying the Bow is presented in three thematic sections: Form and Functions begins by tracing the bow’s utilitarian origins. The next section, Status and Gender, explores the “bow’s” symbolism as a marker and subverter of status and gender. Finally, in Abstraction, the exhibition examines how the symbolism of bows has evolved into abstract forms and patterns. Experiments with scale and technique have allowed bows to transcend their original form to become captivating motifs. Untying the Bow is a transformative journey, unraveling the hidden narratives and cultural expressions that have elevated the bow from a mere structural element to a timeless icon in fashion.
Image: Victor Edelstein, evening dress, black velvet and pink satin, 1987, USA, gift of Anna Wintour, 88.70.1. Image above: Ágatha Ruiz de la Prada, dress and detachable bow in white silk taffeta with hand-painted yellow dots, spring/summer 2014, Spain, gift of Ágatha Ruiz de la Prada.
Untying the Bow is presented in three thematic sections: Form and Functions begins by tracing the bow’s utilitarian origins. The next section, Status and Gender, explores the “bow’s” symbolism as a marker and subverter of status and gender. Finally, in Abstraction, the exhibition examines how the symbolism of bows has evolved into abstract forms and patterns. Experiments with scale and technique have allowed bows to transcend their original form to become captivating motifs. Untying the Bow is a transformative journey, unraveling the hidden narratives and cultural expressions that have elevated the bow from a mere structural element to a timeless icon in fashion.
Image: Victor Edelstein, evening dress, black velvet and pink satin, 1987, USA, gift of Anna Wintour, 88.70.1. Image above: Ágatha Ruiz de la Prada, dress and detachable bow in white silk taffeta with hand-painted yellow dots, spring/summer 2014, Spain, gift of Ágatha Ruiz de la Prada.
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