Pap(i)er Fashion At The Museum Bellerive

papier fashion at museum bellerive

The Pap(i)er Fashion Exhibition at the Museum Bellerive takes us through the fascinating history of paper clothes, beginning with the Swinging Sixties in America and, as the trend spread later, to Europe. The paper fashions reflected what was happening in art, politics and culture at the time; Pop Art and Op Art, Company logos, newspaper prints, and even the electoral candidates of 1968.

Papier Fashion at Museum Bellerive

Papier fashion at Museum Bellerive
above: Ηarry Gordon, The Cat and The Rose, poster dresses, USA 1968. Photo: Panos Davios © ATOPOS collection

paper dresses
above: Baby Ruth and Butterfinger dresses, by MARS Manufacturing Company. © ATOPOS collection

historical political campaign apparel
above: Nixon, Eugene McCarthy, Romney, and Robert Kennedy election dresses in the exhibit. Photo by Betty Fleck, Studio Publikation, Zürcher Hochschule der Künste © ZHdK

The exhibit educates us on the approaches to using raw materials and textiles, garment manufacturing know-how, and the use of particularly innovative non-woven materials as well as paper-like materials.

papier fashion paper dresses
Above left: Gouache on Yellow Pages Dress’ (USA, 1968) by Howard Hodgkin, 2010, for ATOPOS Cultural Organization, © the artist. Above right:”LET’S GO” A PAPER DRESS. Published by Lincoln Mercury (FORD MOTORS). © USA, 1969. ATOPOS Collection, Athens

Paper, which was invented in China in approximately 100 A.D., has been used to manufacture garments and accessories in various cultures in the past and also in many modern creations. The exhibition examines the use of paper in contemporary fashion practices through design, art, advertising, video, catwalk shows and the actual creations of some of the most innovative designers of our times including Paco Rabanne, Issey Miyake, Chanel by Karl Lagerfeld, Jean-Charles de Castelbajac, Akris.

paper hat of roses

paper fashion exhibit

paper crafts fashion
above: Paper floral headpieces created by Katsuya Kamo for Karl Lagerfeld’s CHANEL Haute Couture S/S 2009 Collection, photos © CHANEL

Pieces from the Papier Fashion at Museum Bellerive exhibit:

Harry Gordon, Uptown New York, poster dress
above: Harry Gordon, Uptown New York, poster dress, UK/USA 2007, poem by Allen Ginsberg, first edition. Photo: Panos Davios ©ATOPOS collection, Athens

Robert Wilson, Lisa, USA 2007
above: Robert Wilson, Lisa, USA 2007, commissioned by ATOPOS. ©Robert Wilson and The Byrd Hoffman Watermill Foundation 2007, ATOPOS collection, Athens

warhol campbell's soup dress
above: Campbell’s Soup Company, The Souper Dress, after Warhol, USA 1968, launched for the promotion “Vegetable Soup”. Photo: Panos Davios ©ATOPOS collection, Athens

Universal Fashions, The Big Ones for 68, paper dress, USA 1968,
above: Universal Fashions, The Big Ones for 68, paper dress, USA 1968, Promotion paper dress with portraits of the Studios popular stars. Photo: Panos Davios ©ATOPOS collection, Athens

Harry Gordon, The Eye, poster dress, USA 1968
above: Harry Gordon, The Eye, poster dress, USA 1968. Photo: Panos Davios ©ATOPOS collection, Athens

Bob Dylan, Poster Dress, USA 1967.
above: Bob Dylan, Poster Dress, USA 1967. Photo: Panos Davios ©ATOPOS collection, Athens

Sarah Caplan, Twin Towers, poster dress, USA 1999
above: Sarah Caplan, Twin Towers, poster dress, USA 1999. Photo: Panos Davios ©ATOPOS collection, Athens

James Sterling, Paper Fashion Ltd., Robert Kennedy Electoral Campaign, paper dress, USA 1968,
above: James Sterling, Paper Fashion Ltd., Robert Kennedy Electoral Campaign, paper dress, USA 1968, Photo: Panos Davios ©ATOPOS collection, Athens

Poster Dresses Packaging, USA 1967/68
above: Harry Gordon, Poster Dresses Packaging, USA 1967/68, Photo: Panos Davios ©ATOPOS collection, Athens

Marcus Tomlinson, Stills from the film "Pen to Paper“, UK 2003
above: Marcus Tomlinson, Stills from the film “Pen to Paper“, UK 2003. ©Marcus Tomlinson

Jean-Charles de Castelbajac, Tintin paper
above: Jean-Charles de Castelbajac, Tintin, from the collection “hommage à la presse”, FR 1983, Tyvek, hand-painted. ©ATOPOS Cultural Organization

Diane Steverlynck, Cardboard covering
above: Diane Steverlynck, Cardboard covering, BE 2001–07, worn cardboard boxes, 142 x 185 cm. ©Diane Steverlynck

Diane Steverlynck, Cardboard covering
above: Diane Steverlynck, Cardboard covering, BE 2001–07, worn cardboard boxes, 142 x 185 cm. ©Diane Steverlynck

paper fashion exhibit
above: Hiroaki Ohya, Wizard of Jeanz, JP 2001, paper dress, printed nylon, cotton, polyester, polyurethane, cardboard. Collection Musée d’Art Moderne Grand-Duc Jean, Mudam Luxembourg, Photo: Rémi Villaggi


above: Ida Gut, mantō, CH 1998, paper coat, different layers of paper and fleece paper glued together. Photo ©Urs Wyss

Miyake Inc., Pleats Dress, JP 2007, paper trial, research process
above: Miyake Inc., Pleats Dress, JP 2007, paper trial, research process. Donation to ATOPOS Cultural Organization, Athens, Photo: ©Yiorgos Mavropoulos

martin margiela fox stole of paper
above: Martin Margiela, Fox stole, BE 2008, Spring/Summer 2008, “Artisanal” collection, party paper balls. Lender: Maison Martin Margiela, Photo: Collection “Artisanal” PE08 ©Marina Faust

Sandra Backlund origami paper shirt
above: Sandra Backlund, Top, Spring/Summer collection 2010, SE 2010, Origami paper. Photo ©Peter Gehrke

Sandra Backlund paper fashions
above: Sandra Backlund, Top Ink Blot Test, SE, 2007–08, Origami paper. Photo ©Peter Farago


above: Michael Cepress, Collars for the Modern Gentleman, USA 2006, commissioned by ATOPOS, created using the “Yellow Pages”. Photo: Michelle Moore ©ATOPOS collection, Athens

Stephan Hann comics dress
above: Stephan Hann, Comic Fan, DE 2008, gefertigt aus amerikanischen Comics der 1970 er Jahre, Photo: Itai Margula ©Stephan Hann

papier fashion museum bellerive
museum bellerive
above: Museum Bellerive, Pap(i)er Fashion, exhibition view. Photo: Betty Fleck, Studio Publikation, Zürcher Hochschule der Künste ©ZHdK


Papier fashion at Museum Bellerive
Pap(i)er Fashion at Museum Bellerive, April 30 – August 1st 2010

The exhibition was created in co-operation with the ATOPOS Cultural Organization, Athens.