By Alice Mecelis Fortes
About two months ago, The V&A closed its doors on its first-ever exhibition solely focusing on a Black British Supermodel – Naomi Campbell. The exhibition, NAOMI: In Fashion, included some of Naomi’s staple fashion choices and her unforgettable runway moments; but more than that it celebrated culture and art.
Opening on 22nd of June 2024, the exhibition ran for 9 and a half months and attracted an estimated 200,000 visitors. But the question is what made it so interesting?
Firstly, the exhibition highlighted how fashion can portray art. One of the standout pieces was the Emerald Ensemble dress by Alexander McQueen. The Emerald Ensemble isn’t just a dress – it’s a sculptural work of art. Through Naomi wearing the dress, it becomes a living narrative. The rich green hues and powerful silhouette interpret the idea of a warrior – a fashion warrior – like Naomi had to be to break barriers.
Naomi’s barrier breaking goes far beyond the runway as she was the first Black model to be on the cover of French Vogue, which is one of the many reasons why she is an outstanding figure in the fashion industry.
The exhibition also showcased a less glamorous side of Naomi – from the Dolce & Gabbana dress she wore during her mandatory community service to her COVID Hazmat Suit – the exhibition managed to show us that even Supermodels aren’t always glamorous. The fact that the exhibition showed us that side of Naomi added a more relatable feel to the exhibition, showing people that even Supermodels partake in more ‘normal’ activities.
What made the exhibition the most interesting, was the personal feel it had. Her old plane tickets, letters from designers and pictures from her childhood being on display showed people that Naomi wasn’t only a superstar, but a real person with a journey. The top floor of the exhibition featured a recording of Naomi’s voice where she said empowering quotes such as, ‘When you fall you, you pick yourself back up,’ which showed an encouraging story of resilience. As well as that, the exhibition showcased her journey through a non-inclusive industry and how she changed the fashion world forever with her work alongside the Diversity Coalition.
In the end, Naomi: In Fashion was more than just a showcase of statement runway looks, it was a celebration of Naomi’s legacy and her hard work which changed the fashion industry forever. It showed us how fashion can become art, that hard work can get you anywhere and how Naomi’s hard work positively impacted the next generation of Fashion.