The Design Museum opens Bethany Williams exhibition
The Design Museum has opened a new free exhibition showcasing the works of sustainable fashion designer Bethany Williams, highlighting her efforts to create a fashion brand that focuses on social and environmental values.
The exhibition is entitled "Bethany Williams: Alternative Systems" and showcases her innovative design practices through garments, textile samples, archive material, photography and film footage. It includes William's garments made from recycled book waste, her collaborations with community projects and her collaboration as part of the Emergency Designer Network to create PPE during the pandemic.
Priya Khanchandani, Head of Curatorial at the Design Museum and the display’s curator, said in a statement: “Bethany Williams’ work fuses a streetwear style with handcrafted forms that are rooted in human values. I see it as a joyous example of design that is socially produced and kinder to our planet.
“The display is framed around the notion of Alternative Systems because it shows the immense potential for the design industry – fashion and beyond – to confront social and environmental issues through more ethical ways of working. The exhibits unravel the voices of the studio’s many collaborators, their creativity sewn into the garments’ every stitch, and celebrate what inclusive design could be.”
Bethany Williams added: “With our work, we hope to continue to reach new audiences, encourage inclusivity and positive change for the fashion industry. The Design Museum continues to be aligned with this via the exhibitions curated, including their Waste Age exhibition, which we featured in last year.
“We are so proud to showcase our new exhibition: Bethany Williams: Alternative Systems, a celebration of the new way of working proposed for the fashion industry by the studio’s work.”
To celebrate the exhibition opening, Williams presented her Autumn/Winter 2022 "Hands that Heal Us" collection at the museum during London Fashion Week. The exhibition will run until the 4 September 2022.
