The Los Angeles County Museum of Art is set to host an event celebrating the opening of its new Chinese fashion-centric exhibit.
The L.A. institution has joined forces with Timid Magazine, which focuses on Asian talent across entertainment and culture, for a celebration of its latest exhibit, Fashioning Chinese Women: Empire to Modernity, at the museum.
The new exhibition will feature mannequin heads designed in collaboration with Jason Wu, according to the release, and will open on June 14. Fashioning Chinese Women: Empire to Modernity is the first exhibit of its kind at LACMA. Covering the fall of the Qing Dynasty in 1911 up through the rise of the Cultural Revolution in 1966, the exhibit examines how fashion became a powerful tool to express identity and resistance during a time of social and political change in the country.
“Fashioning Chinese Women: Empire to Modernity traces a century of transformation through more than 70 exquisite ensembles from Shanghai, Hong Kong and America,” the event’s description reads. “It charts the evolution of Chinese women’s dress, from loose-fitting embroidered robes of the late Qing Dynasty to the sleek silhouettes of 1930s qipao and the globally iconic cheongsam of the 1960s. Vibrant colors, sumptuous silks and intricate trims showcase the meticulous craftsmanship that is the hallmark of these garments.”
The description continues, “Displayed on mannequins customized by fashion designer Jason Wu, the works in the exhibition present a seldom-seen story of how Chinese and Chinese American women expressed identity, navigated change and shaped their lives through dress.”
The opening night event will aim to bring together prominent Asian creatives and emerging voices across several industries including fashion, entertainment and culture. It aims to showcase LACMA’s and Timid’s shared commitment to “amplifying Asian narratives and fostering cross-generational cultural dialogue,” according to a release.
Fashioning Chinese Women: Empire to Modernity runs June 14 through Oct. 12 at LACMA.