Horrockses Fashions

Horrockses Fashions Limited was the manufacturer of one of the most well-respected ready-to-wear labels of the 1940s and 1950s.

The company are best known for their full-skirted dresses which were sought after by women everywhere and were even worn by Queen Elizabeth II.

Although they were produced in considerable quantities from the start, the firm maintained an air of exclusivity for the brand, with an emphasis on good quality fabrics, especially cotton, with custom-designed patterns and fashion styling with Parisian couture overtones.

The colourful prints, particularly floral designs will provide a visual feast for visitors to the exhibition.

The importance of fabric design on cotton was key to Horrockses Fashions' success; they acquired designs from a number of sources including in-house staff, commercial design studios, freelancers and also from well-known artists such as Graham Sutherland and Eduardo Paolozzi which were applied to the parent company's high quality cotton sheeting which was reserved exclusively for Horrockses Fashions.

The exhibition focuses on the range of the firm's production, from glamorous evening dresses, to vibrant summer frocks and sophisticated housecoats and beachwear.

It follows the story of the Horrockses' dress from initial fabric and fashion design, to production, promotion and consumption.

Curated by Dr. Christine Boydell - author and design historian - the exhibition is accompanied by a book published by V&A Publishing.