Introduction

Denim – The Fabric of our Lives is a hugely ambitious project which has been jointly curated by the Hub with Val Beattie and Penny Alfrey of Loughborough University’s School of Art & Design. Val Beattie and Penny Alfrey specialise in textiles and lecture independently on fashion and art history. Their research has informed the selection of artefacts for the exhibition. 

Denim has become the universal fabric of the world. In a few short years it has evolved from a work wear material for industry, to the international ‘Couture’ runways, with a celebrated and unrelenting position on the high street. Denim is a staple part of the wardrobe for Western society. Worn by all ages, sexes, and races, this much loved fabric, has a fascinating history and a multitude of associations. 

Workman's denim tunic 1880s

When we think of denim we usually think of jeans but there is much more to it than that. Denim – The Fabric of our Lives illustrates a journey from past to present, from rural England to the prairies of North America, from hard labour to high fashion, from the street to chic, from movies to rock and roll, from pop to politics, from motor bikes to après-ski, from James Dean to Jay-Z, from Monroe

to Moss, from military to mini skirts, from threadbare to evening wear, from thrift shops to sweat shops, from incarceration to liberation, from sexuality to sensuality, from uniform to breaking the norm... 

Denim – The Fabric of our Lives consists of stunning gallery exhibits that include garments, both historic and contemporary, and archives samples of film, television and advertising (details of which are provided later in the press release).

Men's customised denim jacket 1970

Most importantly, the exhibition contains an interactive element which collects dialogue and physical contributions from the visitors to the show. It is these stories, memories, comments, objects and photographs, which demonstrate that denim is indeed more than just a fabric! 

Vivienne Westwood jeans with Marlene Dietrich image

Kenzo printed waistcoat 2000

It is this relationship between ‘people and denim’ that sits at the heart of the project. Although the fascinating origins of the textile are explored in the exhibition, the hub has not presented a simple linear model that details the evolution of the fabric over the last several hundred years. What is attractive about the idea of the show, is the investigation of the fabric as a social phenomenon, or to put another way, an exploration of denim in society.