Saturday 19 September, 11-12.30 and 2-3:30 p.m.: Walkthrough: Contemporary Wardrobe with Liberty McAnena and Sofia Christofis

Contemporary Wardrobe, The Horse Hospital, Herbrand St, London WC1N 1JD, United Kingdom Contemporary Wardrobe is a unique working archive of more than 20,000 garments documenting the evolution of youth identity, subculture and street style from the post-war years to the present day. Founded in 1978 by costume specialist Roger K. Burton, the archive traces the visual language of rebellion, creativity and self-expression through clothing connected to movements including mods, punk, new wave, rave culture and contemporary fashion communities. Today, Contemporary Wardrobe operates as a not-for-profit organisation dedicated to preserving and sharing this important cultural history through research, education and creative collaboration. The walkthroughs will be led by archivists and researchers Liberty McAnena and Sofia Christofis. Liberty holds degrees from Central Saint Martins and the Royal College of Art and has contributed research and archival work for brands including Gucci, JW Anderson and Valentino, as well as publications such as Tate Etc, Dazed and SHOWstudio. Sofia, also a graduate of Central Saint Martins, specialises in fashion archive development and has worked with brands including Birkenstock, Emilio Pucci, Stella McCartney and Toogood. Event Description Join Liberty McAnena and Sofia Christofis for a rare guided walkthrough of the Contemporary Wardrobe archive, offering behind-the-scenes access to one of the UK’s most important collections of modern fashion and subcultural dress. Across two sessions, visitors will explore a curated selection of garments, accessories and ephemera spanning post-war youth culture, punk, clubwear, underground fashion and contemporary street style. Drawing on key pieces linked to figures including Vivienne Westwood, Malcolm McLaren, Leigh Bowery and Rachel Auburn, the walkthrough will consider how clothing became a powerful expression of identity, protest and belonging. Visitors will gain insight into the stories behind the garments, the importance of preserving contemporary dress, and the role archives play in fashion research, film, music and visual culture today. Through discussion, close looking and archival context, the sessions offer a vivid exploration of fashion history as lived experience, revealing how clothes can carry a narrative across generations. Event Cancellation Policy All bookings are non-refundable. However, if you let us know that you are unable to attend an event you have booked at least two weeks before the event, we will open up your place. If we find another participant, you will be offered a credit note. Visit Contemporary Wardrobe's Website Follow Contemporary Wardrobe on Instagram