Manus Machina which means fashion in the age of technology by the costume institute at the world acclaimed Metropolitan Museum of Art popularly termed as “THE MET”. The Met holds an annual fundraising gala as a benefit of The Costume Institute in a Grand Fashion Exhibition every first Monday of May. It is termed as the prom of Fashion and it is one of the biggest events on the Fashion Calendar.
However this night is deeper than just fancy gowns, red carpets and champagne. The year 2016 theme Manus Machina shed some light on the relationship fashion could have with other Industries or disciplines.
Anna Wintour , Vogue Editor in Chief and Chair of the Met Gala plays a big role in the events operations . Focus is brought to Andrew Bolton Head Curator at the Museum. It brings he world into the process of craftsmanship, creativity, innovation and the role of designers .The fusion of handmade and mechanics in the making of these unique garments. Throughout time man and machines have always been pinned as rivals. In that where a machine can be brought in ,man can be eliminated or manpower can be reduced.
The most raved about piece was a gown by Karl Lagerfeld for CHANEL, in the beginning the gown is sketched by hand and then scanned to give it a pixelated pattern then the pattern is hand painted on to a train and transfer printed by a machine then finished by hand with gem stones.
The exhibition goes further to curates an encyclopedia to take people back to when fashion was first brought up to the same status as science and arts. The use of different types of techniques ; such as feather work, embroidery, artificial flowers, pleats, lace and leather. People are always looking for what is next that they never get a chance or take time to appreciate in the intricate process of the making of fashion. It is not only the it is not just sewing techniques but a closer look at creative concepts.3D printing which can be as radical as any sewing machine.
The Met in this theme looks to provoke designers to employ technology in their designs to enhance their creativity, we are fortunate enough to be living in a time where technology is evolving. It looks to minimize time, create unique and innovative ways of embroidery, patterns and material. It sort of pulls people from the usual ready to wear garments. It sets to drive a conversation that it is indeed very realistic to find other disciplines such as Technology in the design process which goes beyond the ‘haute couture’ that everyone is used to.
Wendy Wangui 