Jumpsuit

Design House Katharine Hamnett London British

fall/winter 1993–94

Not on view

Katharine Hamnett's irreverent trompe l'oeil (optical illusion) bodysuit carnivalizes classical notions of tailoring, masculinity, and seriousness by printing a men's striped suit and colorful tie onto a bodystocking. The body-conscious fit of the suit betrays the three-dimensional structure it projects; the childishness of the graphics undo the seriousness of the tailored men's suit.
Hamnett's pioneering use of DIY aesthetics and iconoclastic design tactics have put her at the forefront of activist movements in fashion propelling sustainable and ethical production methods. She has used fashion design as a platform from which to tackle sociopolitical issues, in fashion and the world at large.

Artwork Details

Object Information

Overview

Signatures, Inscriptions, and Markings

Title: Jumpsuit
Design House: Katharine Hamnett London (British, founded 1979)
Designer: Katharine Hamnett (British, born 1947)
Date: fall/winter 1993–94
Culture: British
Medium: Lycra, metal
Credit Line: Purchase, The Dorothy Strelsin Foundation Inc. Gift, 2019
Object Number: 2019.417
Curatorial Department: The Costume Institute

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