SCAD FASH Museum of Fashion + Film presents “KALEIDOSCOPE KATRANTZOU: Mary Katrantzou, 10 Years in Fashion,” an exhibition celebrating the 10th anniversary of the coveted designer’s eponymous label. Katrantzou is acclaimed for her bold colors, textures and prints, which she expertly wields into kaleidoscopic, sculptural creations. Known for her limitless imagination, she draws from enchanting, unexpected sources: Fabergé eggs, Bauhaus posters, postage stamps, perfume bottles and typewriters have all found their way into her collections. “KALEIDOSCOPE KATRANTZOU,” a retrospective of the designer’s work from the past decade, features iconic looks that reveal her innovative approach combining fashion, art and technology.
Born in Athens, Greece, and based in London, Katrantzou took the fashion world by storm in 2008 with her now-legendary collection of trompe l’oeil prints, quickly becoming an industry favorite. Over the past 10 years, Katrantzou has surprised and stunned critics each season. Tapped for prestigious partnerships with cult brands including Atelier Swarovski, Victoria's Secret, Longchamp, Moncler and Adidas Originals, Katrantzou has also collaborated with artist-provocateur Pablo Bronstein, designed costumes for the New York City Ballet and Paris Opera, and exhibited her work at the Metropolitan Museum of Art. In December 2018, she was invited to design Beyoncé’s look for the Global Citizen Festival, a majestic ensemble of floral patchwork based on the contours of the African continent, printed on a sequin base and hand-embroidered with Swarovski crystals. Katrantzou’s garments are highly sought after by fashionistas, collectors and celebrities alike, and have been worn by Michelle Obama, Cate Blanchett, Lupita Nyong’o, and Naomi Campbell, among many others.
“KALEIDOSCOPE KATRANTZOU: Mary Katrantzou, 10 Years in Fashion” is curated by Alexandra Sachs, SCAD FASH executive director, and Rafael Gomes, director of fashion exhibitions. It is presented as part of SCADstyle, held April 9–11 at university locations in Atlanta and Savannah, Georgia, and Hong Kong.
Photo by Stephanie Galea
Greek born, London-based fashion designer Mary Katrantzou took the industry by storm in 2008 – and has been wowing the fashion world ever since. Known as the “Queen of Prints,” Katrantzou plays with clashing aesthetics, mixing high fashion, high street, technology and craftsmanship. Katrantzou has received numerous awards, including the 2010 Swiss Textiles Award, a 2011 British Fashion Award for Emerging Talent and the 2012 Next Young Designer of the Year Award at the Elle Style Awards. In 2015, Katrantzou won the British Fashion Council/Vogue Designer Fashion Fund and the British Fashion Award for New Establishment Designer, and was named the Harper’s Bazaar Breakthrough Designer and Glamour Designer of the Year. She has collaborated with high-profile brands including Longchamp, Moncler and Adidas and has dressed some of today’s most renowned actresses, singers and public figures, including Cate Blanchett, Beyoncé and Michelle Obama. Her much-lauded work has been exhibited at the Metropolitan Museum of Art and Dallas Contemporary, among others.