Orla Kiely: A Life in Pattern {Fashion and Textile Museum}

Today I finally got to visit the Orla Kiely: A Life in Pattern exhibition at the Fashion and Textile Museum in Bermondsey. I’ve been a huge fan of Orla Kiely for about 15 years and have a growing collection of handbags, bedding and homeware. The only thing I’ve not really bought into is her clothing range. Even if you don’t know the name you will know her prints. My favourite is her stem print which can be found on just about everything from cars to books, candles and yoghurt pots.

The Fashion and Textile Museum is a short walk from London Bridge underground station. My husband took a day off work to come with me. I think we both knew he would be the only man at the exhibition!

Orla Kiely: A Life in Pattern {Fashion and Textile Museum}

‘I sometimes think that my brain works in repeat. I love the order and regiment of repetition, and how anything and everything can be patterned in this way, as if you are looking at the world through a prism or kaleidoscope.’ – Orla Kiely

Inspired by the up-beat exuberance of the 1960s, a love of Irish and Scandinavian architecture and mid-century design, Orla Kiely has grown from humble beginnings in the 1990s, to become a global phenomenon.

Presented thematically, Orla Kiely: A Life in Pattern explores all aspects of Orla’s creative output, from lifestyle and fashion ranges to use of colour and detail and the geometry of pattern. The exhibition draws on an archive of over 20 years of work, offering visitors unparalleled insight into her methods and concepts, exploring sketches, mood boards, samples and a range of making techniques.

‘Pattern is not a trend for me, to be taken up one minute and abandoned the next when the winds of fashion change. Pattern is in me. It is my life.’– Orla Kiely

It’s a lovely exhibition of her work over the last 30 years but I felt it was missing something. I really enjoyed the last exhibition I went to at the Fashion and Textile Museum and spent ages looking around and reading everything. I’m not sure if it was because I was too familiar with most of the items on display or if I just don’t want to pay to see something I can see for free at the Orla Kiely shop in Covent Garden.

There are 3 main areas to the exhibition after an introductory video: boxes containing objects against her different prints and patterns; a room full of oversized dresses hanging from the ceiling; and the upstairs gallery was full of her clothes on mannequins and a wall of handbags organised by colour. Sadly there was a workshop on which meant we couldn’t go into one of the exhibition rooms.

I used my National Art Pass which meant I got reduced entry to Orla Kiely: A Life in Pattern. I picked up a great exhibition poster in the shop as well as some postcards which I’m going to frame. Orla Kiely: A Life in Pattern is on at the Fashion and Textile Museum until 23rd September.