For one of our most recent independent study visits, we visited the temporary exhibition Comme des Marxists at Fashion Space Gallery in London College of Fashion. I was initially surprised at how small the exhibition was but as I circled the room and took in what was on display I saw how much work and meaning was in it.
The exhibition addresses late capitalism with a satirical and anti capitalistic stance, using humour to look at societies fixation on superficial appearances. The exhibition uses Karl Marx ; the anti-thesis to Capitalism to portray this distortion of social values. Even the use of the word ‘late capitalism’ carry with it connotations of satire and critique.
After the 1940’s, the production of fashion changed drastically. As opposed to the dress making establishment described by Engels. The transition to new manufacturing processes meant the replacement of hand production methods to machines.
One thing that never changed was he conditions endured by factory workers, the hours put in and the exploitation of human labour and the dehumanisation.
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