Schiaparelli bustier by Daniel Roseberry, Baqué Molinié (embroidery), haute couture fall-winter 2022-2023. SCHIAPARELLI
In December, there were two compelling reasons to visit the Palais Galliera in Paris. The first was the dazzling exhibition dedicated to Rick Owens in the main gallery, which ends on January 4. The second is located in the Paris fashion museum's basement and offers more to explore: "Weaving, Embroidering, Sublimating" is devoted to the crafts of fashion until October 18, 2026.
Artisan work, as a whole, may seem tedious or overused, as luxury brands have invested heavily in it in recent years, staging exhibitions and showcasing films and books to celebrate these artists. In this context, it is refreshing to see a public museum – with no commercial agenda – presenting an objective and comprehensive survey of these disciplines, in which France has excelled for centuries.
With these exhibitions, there is much to unveil, so they are divided into three parts, each presented in succession. The first (and current) section highlights the best-known métiers d'art: weaving, embroidery, printing and lace-making. The common thread is flowers, "a fundamental element of French decorative arts since the 18th century," explained Marie-Laure Gutton, co-curator and head of the accessories collection.
