July 11, 2016
Karl Lagerfeld for Chanel, fall/winter 2014, on display at The Met
The Metropolitan Museum of Art’s Costume Institute has extended the viewing of this year’s “Manus x Machina: Fashion in an Age of Technology” exhibition through Labor Day.
Made possible by an Apple sponsorship and in collaboration with Conde Nast, Manus x Machina explores the fashion industry’s fascination with technological innovations, whether that be wearables or 3D printing (see story). Following the annual Met Gala, held May 3, the exhibition opened to the public on May 5, and witnessed more than 350,000 viewers in its first nine weeks.
Manus x Machina mania
The exhibition was scheduled to end on Aug. 14, but due to high attendance and interest in the displays, The Met has decided to prolong its run until Labor Day Sept. 5.
Manus x Machina explores how designers are at a crossroad between handmade and machine-made for haute couture and ready-to-wear. Throughout the exhibit, displays with items from Burberry, Alexander McQueen, Lanvin, Christian Dior and Louis Vuitton, among many others, show the distinction between the roles of hands and machines as tools of creation.
“With the transformation of the Robert Lehman Wing into a breathtaking cathedral to couture, we want to give as many people as possible the chance to experience this exhibition,” said Thomas P. Campbell, director/CEO of The Met, in a statement.
Garments on display at The Met's Manus x Machina
“The show invites visitors to explore the artistry of more than 170 haute couture and ready-to-wear ensembles,” he said. “It is a wonderful way to discover the magic behind the making of fashion.”
Manus x Machina’s floor space is slightly smaller than last year’s “China: Through the Looking Glass,” but has 30 more ensembles. According to The Met, despite thousands of domestic and international visitors, the smaller exhibition hall has not lead to long lines.
As of press time, Manus x Machina’s attendance is slightly behind China: Through the Looking Glass and “Alexander McQueen: Savage Beauty” from 2011. Those two exhibits were The Met’s fifth and eighth most popular exhibits, respectively.
At the end of its run China: Through the Looking Glass saw 815,992 visitors while Alexander McQueen: Savage Beauty counted 661,509 attendees. As with Manus x Machina, success led The Met to push back the closure date to allow for more visitors.
The success of China: Through the Looking Glass was furthered by a Conde Nast-produced documentary that followed the Costume Institute’s preparations for the gala and exhibit (see story).
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