Experience The Ecology of Fashion, the first-ever, co-created exhibition by Drexel’s Westphal College and the Academy of Natural Sciences.

Featuring stunning and provocative garments from Drexel’s Robert and Penny Fox Historic Costume Collection — heralded as a “world-class collection of fashion and textiles” by The Wall Street Journal — as well as specimens from the Academy of Natural Sciences and works by contemporary change-makers, the exhibit boldly shows how materials, production processes and our own patterns of clothing consumption impact the world around us.

The Ecology of Fashion invites visitors to explore both the fascinating and fraught ways in which flora, fauna, fungi and fossil fuels are fundamental to our clothing. Learn how contemporary household designer names and modern high-end brands — Oscar de la Renta, Givenchy, Levi Strauss & Co. — continue to draw inspiration from the natural world, even while utilizing mass-produced materials and processes. Discover how a single style trend, such a coat worn by First Lady Jackie Kennedy, can lead to devastating impacts. Explore how shifts in textile production and fights to address labor rights may be enacting more environmentally friendly and ethical practices. Participate in workshops with local fashion-forward mavericks who are getting creative in their approaches to sustainable fashion or reviving traditional agricultural methods.

In what ways is the natural environment quite literally woven into the clothes that we wear? How can we better care for the natural world through wardrobe curation, conscious fashion, thrifting forays or visible mending? And how can we know the history of a piece of clothing just by looking closely? The Ecology of Fashion considers our complex interrelationship with the natural world and our evolving sense of ethics in its stewardship.

Join us for the opening event!

Friday, November 15, 2024
The Ecology of Fashion Opening Celebration: A Sustainably Chic Affair