Acclaimed Fashion City exhibition extended to 7 July 2024 with free student ticket offer for April and May

“Brilliant!” – Patrick Grant

“It's the best fashion exhibition I've seen in years” – Alexandra Shulman (Mail on Sunday)

“A thorough and nuanced depiction of the makers of London fashion” – Evening Standard

“Immersive and brilliantly assembled at every turn” – Apollo Magazine

“Expertly crafted” – Glass Magazine

“A must-see for anyone interested in either fashion history or London history” – Amber Butchart

The Museum of London Docklands has today announced an extension to Fashion City: How Jewish Londoners shaped global style, which uncovers the major contribution of Jewish makers to defining London as a fashion capital. It will now run until Sunday 7th July 2024 and will include a free ticket offer for students throughout April and May.

From East End tailors to the couture salons of the West End, Fashion City tells the story of Jewish designers, makers and retailers who made London an iconic fashion city. Those responsible for some of the most recognisable looks of the 20th century, who became leading figures in their industries, and founded retail chains still present on the high street today.

Star objects on display include coats worn by Princess Diana and the beloved East Enders character Dot Cotton. Other highlights include the iconic Mr Fish maxi-smoking dress with beaded panels, a Rosenthal, Jacob & Co 1881-1892 bag that belonged to Queen Victoria or her daughter Princess Louise, and hats and objects relating to ‘milliner millionaire’ Otto Lucas, who changed the global reputation of British fashion in the mid-20th century and whose hats graced the cover of British Vogue. The exhibition finishes with a wall showcasing the countless names who have contributed to making London a fashion capital. Since opening in October, a book inviting guests to share their own connections has gathered hundreds more stories from visitors.

Douglas Gilmore, Museum of London Docklands Managing Director said: “It has been amazing to see the response to Fashion City and the way it has resonated with so many people. We’ve seen increasing numbers turning out to see the exhibition since the New Year, including nearly 800 students in February who have been making the most of our free ticket offer. It’s inspired us to extend the exhibition and give people more time to come and visit. We hope it will allow as many young people as possible to learn about this fascinating history.”

Fashion City brings together brand-new curatorial research and is the museum’s first exhibition in two decades centred on its extensive Dress & Textile collection. In May, a conference at Museum of London Docklands and London College of Fashion, supported by the Pasold Research Fund, will celebrate the exhibition by connecting voices from the museum sector, academia, journalism, and beyond to consider the practice of exhibiting fashion, and the role of dress, fashion and textiles in museums today.

• Fashion City opened 13 October 2023 and will now close 7 July 2024 (was due to close 14 April 2024). With a free ticket offer for students in April and May 2024.
• For April and May 2024, free tickets can be booked online or in person for students over 16 with a valid student card and ID. Under 12s go free.

This conference is held to mark the exhibition Fashion City: How Jewish Londoners shaped global style, the first fashion exhibition ever to be held at the Museum of London Docklands. It has been twenty years since the Museum of London last staged a major fashion exhibition (The London Look), and much has changed in that period. Fashion exhibitions have commanded increasing prominence and public attention in recent years. This is particularly true for ‘blockbuster’ fashion exhibitions, usually organised by larger institutions, often in conjunction with fashion houses, which draw substantial audiences and press coverage. The symposium will take place in person at the Museum of London Docklands (Canary Wharf) and the London College of Fashion (East Bank) on May 30th and 31st 2024.

For more press information please contact Mariam Hussein, Media Officer at the Museum of London on [email protected] / 07713 565805 or Ashton Bainbridge, PR Manager on [email protected] / 07967 313176

Fashion City: How Jewish Londoners shaped global style

By Bethan Bide and Lucie Whitmore

£20 ǀ paperback ǀ October 2023 ǀ Philip Wilson Publishers

This book accompanies Museum of London Docklands’ major exhibition Fashion City: How Jewish Londoner's shaped global style. Discover the extraordinary stories of the Jewish people who designed, made and sold fashion in 20th-century London, revealing their vital role in making it an iconic fashion city.

Fashion City: How Jewish Londoners shaped global style

13th October 2023 – 7th July 2024

Museum of London Docklands, No.1 Warehouse, West India Quay, London E14 4AL

Step inside a traditional tailor’s workshop in the East End and immerse yourself in the glitz and glamour of a Carnaby Street boutique at the height of the Swinging Sixties – when London was the world's fashion capital.

For the first time, this exhibition will uncover the major contribution of Jewish designers in making London an iconic fashion city. Discover the stories behind the Jewish fashion makers who became leaders in their industries, founded retail chains still on the high street today, and dressed the rich and famous – including David Bowie, Princess Diana and Mick Jagger.