Orla Kiely Exhibition: A Life In Pattern

Orla Kiely has grown from humble beginnings in the 1990s, to become a global phenomenon now selling a range of designs across fashion to homeware in over 33 countries worldwide. Inspired by the 1960s, a love of Irish and Scandinavian architecture and mid-century design, Orla Kiely has developed an iconic style that is at once recognised and enjoyed the world over.

The exhibition is presented thematically, exploring all aspects of Orla’s creative output, from lifestyle and fashion ranges to the signature use of colour and detail and the geometry of pattern. Orla Kiely: A Life in Pattern draws on an archive of over 20 years of work, offering visitors unparalleled insight into Orla’s methods of design, from initial concepts to sketches, mood boards, samples and many of the making techniques.

‘Once in a lifetime cultural commentators recognise a designer who creates a style that is perfect in tune with the times. Orla Kiely is that designer today.’ Mary Schoeser, Exhibition Curator and Textile Historian.

Orla’s work is hugely inspired by the pattern of the 1950s and 1960s, by designers such as Mary Quant and Lucienne Day. Her visual vocabulary is complexity presented simply, with many of her designs displaying her innate understanding of the negative and positive space within a design and the complex mathematical possibilities of repeats.

The exhibition charts the growth and success of Orla Kiely, from her first collection of hats presented at London Fashion Week in 1994 to her most recent collection of homeware and fashion, which will be showcased alongside her film collaborations with artists including Gia Coppola. The exhibition also looks at Orla Kiely herself, exploring her childhood in Ireland and her love of colours that pay homage to the Irish countryside. Rare family photographs and other personal memorabilia will be displayed alongside some of her earliest designs.

Awarded an OBE in 2011 for her services to Fashion and Business, Orla Kiely’s work in the fields of design have now covered ready-to-wear, fragrance, beauty, handbags, watches, jewellery, shoes, homewares, wallpapers and more. The brand has also seen many unique collaborations around the world; including trams in the signature Linear Stem print in Hong Kong, car interiors designed for Citroen DS3 and capsule collections created for Uniqlo.

Orla Kiely: A Life in Pattern showcases fashion on the mezzanine gallery, with over 30 full outfits displayed on mannequins and complemented by a whole wall dedicated to Orla’s iconic handbags. Orla presented her first ready-to-wear collection in 2003 using simple, clean silhouettes that allowed the prints to stand out. Her clothes are now worn by a range of well-known names including Alexa Chung, Kiera Knightly, Emma Thompson, Scarlett Johansson and the Duchess of Cambridge.