Antwerp, Amsterdam, Barcelona, Copenhagen, Dakar, Seoul, Sydney...a familiar, yet unfamiliar, line up of cities which have all emerged as sites for the production and display of fashion in recent times. Are these also the names set to usurp the power of the ‘’Big Five’’ ‘’Fashion Capitals’’ Paris, London, Milan, New York, and Tokyo? While the power, position and prestige of the legendary Fashion Capitals are recognised as such throughout the structures and networks of the fashion industry, none are sacrosanct as such. _Post-World War Two Paris had to re-assert its hold on womenswear against threats from the sportswear culture of New York which emerged during the 1940s and early 1950s, and from London’s ‘’youth-quake’’ fashions in the 1960s. In Italy, both Rome and Florence were precursors to Milan’s authority as the country’s pre-eminent Fashion City. Yet, throughout the 20th Century, and in particular from the 1980s onwards, smaller cities, or ‘’Style Centres’’ such as Antwerp, Amsterdam, Barcelona or Copenhagen, have sought to develop their own influence through fashion culture. In Volume 15, Issue 2 of Fashion Theory: Journal of Dress, Body and Culture published in June 2011, the editors Lise Skov, of Copenhagen Business School, and Marie Riegels Melchior, of Designmuseum Danmark, brought together a collection of research papers which pioneer an approach looking at the decentering of Fashion Cities and the fashion culture that emanates from them. In her own paper in this volume Skov considers the changes occurring towards what she describes as a ‘’poly-centric’’ fashion industry. The purpose of this conference is to bring together a variety of fashion and creative industry practitioners, researchers and commentators to(re)consider the developing structures and networks of the fashion industry as it is set to develop in the 21st Century through such a ‘’poly-centric’’ system of Fashion Cities.
Conference Program
Day One 19th September 2012
18.00-19.30 Panel Discussion: Developing the Fashion City (Speakers TBC)
19.30-21.00 Exhibition Private View and Drinks Reception
Day Two 20th September 2012
9.00-9.30 Registration
9.30-9.45 Opening Address
9.45 – 11.00 Panel Discussion: Displaying Fashion Culture (Speakers TBC)
11.00 -11.30 Coffee
11.30-13.00 Sessions
11.30-13.00 Sessions
13.00-14.00 Lunch
14.00-15.00 Sessions
15.00-16.00 Sessions
16.00-16.30 Coffee
16.30-17.45 Panel Discussion: The Role ofthe Fashion Academy (Speakers TBC)
17.45-18.00 Closing Remarks
18.00 Optional Drinks Reception hosted by Helen Hamlyn Centre/London Design Week
Day Three 21st September 2012
9.00-9.30 Registration
9.30-9.45 Opening Address
9.45 – 11.00 Panel Discussion: The Business of Fashion Culture (Speakers TBC)
11.00 -11.30 Coffee
11.30-13.00 Sessions
13.00-14.00 Lunch
14.00-15.00 Sessions
15.00-16.00 Sessions
16.00-16.30 Coffee
16.30-17.45 Panel Discussion: The Dissemination of Fashion Culture (Speakers TBC)
17.45-18.00 Closing Remarks
Day Four 22nd September 2012 (Optional)
14.00-16.00 Fashion Film Screening and Panel Discussion (Speakers TBC)
In addition, as part of the programme of events to accompany the exhibition, this event is also open to all conference participants (an additional fee for this event will apply)
Exhibition
The accompanying exhibition will be open for both participants in the conference and outside visitors from 20th September, continuing until the 27th September 2012, from 11.00 to 18.00 daily. Entry to the exhibition is free (access to the exhibition will be via the Jay Mews Entrance).
