Fashion City: How Jewish Londoners Shaped Global Style

Fabulous and enlightening exhibition at the Museum of London Docklands looking at the role of Jewish Londoners in fashion and the clothing industry.

The Museum of London always puts on excellent exhibitions and this was no exception. They are well designed and simply explained. I loved the focus on telling people's stories in this show and the personal objects and I was astonished at how many well-known brands have Jewish origins.

The show was cleverly divided into East End and West End separated by a walkway which discussed how the opening of Oxford Circus tube station and the development of the Central Line linked the two areas. I loved the themed areas which were often designed like small shops or workshops.

There are too many stories to report and I would really encourage you to go and read them yourself. Highlights for me include E. Moses and Sons in Aldgate which was the biggest clothing shop in England in 1846 having been founded in 1829, the luggage company Molmax which fled Vienna before the Second World War and established themselves in London and the wonderful dressmaker P. Lewis & Co, I want the suit she made for her sister with a black jacket with a cinched in waist and bugle beads!

In telling this story they also told the story of the London fashion industry in general and Jewish life in London.

Closes 14 April 2024


Review

Evening Standard


 

 

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