Future Observatory: Tomorrow’s Wardrobe - Exhibition Review

Clothes at times are an overlooked essential part of our nature, but have you ever stopped and asked yourself, what am I actually wearing?

Earlier this year, a little resurgence of my eczema, lead me down a rabbit hole into a self-education on what fabrics worked for me, rather than working against me. Once I discovered that synthetic and treated materials were the bane of my existence, I then found myself endlessly researching natural fibres, which lead to endlessly researching ethical fashion, which lead to endlessly researching the supply chain. Soon enough, I was sat facing my laptop, surrounded by several empty mugs of tea, facing the impending and sobering reality of fashion in this modern day and age.

This past month, we visited The London Design Museum, which has been hosting the 'Future Observatory: Tomorrow’s Wardrobe', a free exhibition situated on the top floor, showcasing innovations and sustainable practices in the fashion world. Stella McCartney, Ponda, Ahluwalia, Salomon, Ranra, Phoebe English and Vivobarefoot are just a few of the designers and design houses featured.

As a fan and avid wearer of Vivobarefoot trainers for a few years now, I was naturally drawn to their 3D Printed Shoes on display: the ‘VivoBiome Mocc’. Do your best to imagine a glove moulded to your foot, shaped to the very contours of your feet. Each pair of shoes being exclusively made only on demand (and to a select few at that). But why are these shoes featured in such an exhibition? Well, the shoes have followed a strict production protocol, so that they can be eventually be biodegraded and composted. And whilst the brand don’t advise you pop them in your gardens compost bin, Vivobarefoot do aim to take them back and compost them in an industrial facility.

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Editor at Dezeen magazine Tom Ravenscroft, spoke with Galahad Clark, the Co-Founder of Vivobarefoot. Clark talks about the convoluted nature of making shoes in this day and age: "It's also complicated, there's multiple layers to the supply chain and it's almost impossible to get your hands around in terms of the true environmental impact. But it's ultimately wasteful by design.”

So whilst I’m still searching for the worlds most ‘eczema-friendly' garments, I’ve also opened my eyes to the world of sustainable fashion; and all that it entails. This exhibition provided an educational, informative, and immersive experience, and would recommend it to anyone who takes an interest in fashion and sustainability.

This exhibition runs until the August 2025, and more information can be found on the official Design Museum website here: https://designmuseum.org/exhibitions/future-observatory-tomorrows-wardrobe

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