Foreword

The V&A is honoured to collaborate with the Hong Kong Heritage Museum on the exhibition 'The Golden Age of Couture: Paris and London 1947-1957'.

This exhibition celebrates an important decade in fashion history that began with the launch of Christian Dior's famous New Look in 1947 and ended with his death in 1957. Couture thrived during these years, and Paris enjoyed renown worldwide for the luxurious creations that its fashion houses produced. Designers such as Cristóbal Balenciaga, Pierre Balmain and Hubert de Givenchy dominated the headlines but their London counterparts such as Hardy Amies, John Cavanagh and Norman Hartnell also excelled.

The V&A possesses one of the finest collections of fashionable dress in the world and we are proud to be able to feature evening gowns, cocktail dresses and suits by many of the leading designers of the time, accompanied by fashion photography and illustrations from our own superb archive; 95% of the exhibits come from the V&A's own collection. They have been specially conserved for this exhibition, and carefully displayed to accentuate the meticulous skill that each custom-made piece demanded.

Christian Dior described the post-war years as a 'golden age', and this exhibition recognises his central contribution to the era. Dior and his contemporaries set the highest of standards for creative design and impeccable workmanship, and their legacy continues to this day.

We are especially pleased to have been able to work with the Hong Kong Heritage Museum, with whom this is our first major collaboration. We would like to extend particular thanks to Ms Belinda Wong, Chief Curator, and her colleagues at the Hong Kong Heritage Museum for their dedication and professionalism.

The V&A cherishes its close links with Chinese institutions. As the world's leading museum of art and design, the V&A places great value on international collaboration and cultural exchange. It is very gratifying when initiatives such as this exhibition with the Hong Kong Heritage Museum allow us to further those goals.

Mark Jones
Director
Victoria and Albert Museum