Exhibition: Elizabeth Hawes: Along Her Own Lines — Opens

Elizabeth Hawes, ivory, purple, and lavender striped brocade evening dress (detail), c. 1936, USA, gift of Mrs. Dudley Schoales, 69.156.6

Elizabeth Hawes, multicolor cotton, handknit man’s jockey shorts (front view), 1964, USA, gift of Barnes Riznik, 88.65.3

Elizabeth Hawes

March 1–26, 2023
Gallery FIT, The Museum at FIT

Elizabeth Hawes: Along Her Own Lines is the first contemporary exhibition dedicated to the gifted American clothing designer, author, and labor activist, Elizabeth Hawes (1903–1971). The show opens at a crucial moment when Hawes is especially relevant, because her activism and innovative philosophies correspond to the concerns of today. Hawes criticized the exploitative, classist nature of the fashion industry and sought to revolutionize it in her own creations, and through her writing and unionization efforts. She created gender nonbinary clothing and encouraged women to embrace their unique bodies with an open-minded positivity that was ahead of its time. Hawes further used writing and journalism to challenge the fashion industry from the inside, and called for people to think consciously about what they wear—with words that remain influential.

Read the full description on The Museum at FIT’s website.

This exhibition is presented by students in FIT’s Fashion and Textile Studies: History, Theory, Museum Practice MA program.  This program builds knowledge in fashion and textile history, object conservation, and exhibition theory over the course of two years. During their second year, students utilize the interdisciplinary skills they have acquired through the program to collaborate with The Museum at FIT, developing and installing an exhibition of fashion objects from MFIT’s collection.

This exhibition is free and open to the public.