Collecting Sue Clowes

1980s FASHION AND TEXTILE DESIGN

15 November 2024 to 18 January 2025

An exhibition featuring the fashion and textiles of leading 1980s London-based designer Sue Clowes. Her designs were most famously worn by eighties pop icons Boy George and Culture Club. Between 1981 and 1986 Clowes produced a series of collections, all featured in this exhibition, each of which featured intricate prints that became a trademark of Clowes’ designs. Throughout the 1980s Clowes work was featured in leading mainstream fashion magazines such as Vogue and Harper’s Bazaar as well as new lifestyle magazines The Face, Blitz and i-D. Southampton based collector Mikey Bean generously loaned his extensive archive of Sue Clowes clothing and related ephemera for this celebration of 80s culture. We were delighted to welcome Boy George to the gallery to witness his iconic contribution to the Collecting Sue Clowes exhibition.  

We were delighted to welcome Boy George to the gallery to witness his iconic contribution to the Collecting Sue Clowes exhibition. 

All photos: Dave Gibbons

Collecting Sue Clowes: 1980s Fashion and Textile Design
  • A gallery room features rows of mannequins dressed in patterned garments, creating a corridor-like view. Exhibition signage for “Collecting Sue Clowes” is visible in the background.
  • A gallery wall displays an introduction panel for the exhibition titled “Collecting Sue Clowes,” with colorful text and a detailed description. A blurred figure wearing vibrant patterned clothing is partially visible in the foreground.
  • The image shows an open magazine with text on the left page titled “Titane” and a fashion photograph on the right. The photograph features a person wearing a sleeveless patterned top, a short skirt, and holding two large black hoops against a bright blue background.
  • Two people stand indoors holding large bouquets of flowers wrapped in paper, near a staircase and a wall with artwork. The setting appears to be a gallery or event space.
  • The image shows an open magazine with two fashion photographs against a red background. The outfit features a sleeveless orange patterned dress layered over a black sheer top, accessorized with a colorful geometric sash.
  • The image shows an open magazine with text on the left page and a fashion photograph on the right. The photograph features a person wearing a sleeveless top with a bold red cross design, a furry striped vest, and patterned trousers.
  • The image shows an open magazine featuring two fashion photographs against a pink background. One page displays a full-body shot of a person wearing a white top, patterned scarf, and a long floral skirt, while the other page shows a close-up of the same outfit.
Collecting Sue Clowes: 1980s Fashion and Textile Design
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Photographs credits: Dave Gibbons and Xinyue Li. Email us for specific credits and captions for external use.