POPFest Rehearsal

 

Our recent Speculative Sewing Catwalk showcased a collection of POP’s research-based reconstructions of historic patented costumes.

ALL are convertible.

These incredibly inventive designs span over a century, with the earliest being an inflatable rubber tube hoop skirt patented in 1857.

Because the costumes need to be worn for the convertible aspects to be fully appreciated, we invited 9 people to dress in the research for the POP Fest showcase.

All clothing inventions transform in some way – this was not a standard runway event. And no one involved had ever been in a fashion show or organised one before.

So, rehearsals were essential to get all the pieces together and work out what we were doing.

There were a lot of details to refine: Kat’s intro’s, camera angles, transformation logistics, music lists, synchronisation, sashays, twirls and boogies.

Needless to say, the dress rehearsal was as much fun as the public event later on.

The models were students from Goldsmiths, researchers and friends of the Politics of Patents project. Thank you to George, Mene, Jo, Stephanie, Tom, Hennie, Flora, Cal and Silvia for their involvement  to the showcase and to the POP research as a whole. We are indebted to them for the enthusiasm and energy they brought to the event, and the way they helped to share and showcase the stories, inventiveness and, in some cases, bravery of the inventors.

Many thanks also to Alice Angus and Clara Angus Lane for managing the dressing and behind-the-scenes activities.

Image credits: Britt, Clara, Alice, James and many more. Thankyou!

George practices the Worthington combination skirt

Hennie walks out in the Bankhart combination climbing outfit

Silvia steps into the Thoma convertible skirt and breeches

Mene transforms Henderson’s adjustable cycling skirt

Stephanie showcases all the pocket patents

Jo twirls in the Gill’ bubble cycling skirt

Tom tries out the Rossler combination travel and sports suit

And many more pics were taken in the rehearsal….