MAD Fashion Research

Researching about Spanish luxury fashion, the best place to do so is the apparel museum, “Museo del Traje” in Madrid - airport code MAD ;-) . I have found very interesting books and articles at the Museum’s library; as well as a very nice place to write in.

The museum was created in 2004, but the collection has a longer history as an anthropologic collection of apparel. The building was originally inaugurated in 1975 as the Spanish Museum of Contemporary Art and the architects, Jaime López de Asiaín and Angel Díaz Domínguez, followed the specifications of the 1968 Congress of Museum Architecture in its design. The project was awarded the National Prize for Architecture in 1969 (Museo del Traje, n.d.).

The museum conserves items from the 16th to the 21st Century, including pieces by Spanish couturiers who contributed to fashion history such as Mariano Fortuny or Cristóbal Balenciaga. In fact, one of the temporary exhibitions is a talk between Balenciaga and a contemporary designer, Assaad Awad. I consider the objectives of this exhibition are very similar to my own research. The purposes of these talks are: “firstly, from the revitalization of heritage linked to fashion, in the belief that a major creative industry must be based on knowledge of tradition, at least in the Spanish case; and secondly, bringing into play the creativity of designers to interpret that tradition and demonstrate the inventiveness of the new generation of fashion designers” (Museo del Traje, n.d.).

https://vimeo.com/assaadawad/balenciaga
 

Assaad Awad’s pieces are characterized by craftsmanship and cutting edge, in addition to the use of many types of materials and luxury goods, leather accessories and jewelry that respect the quality and workmanship of each piece. I am pretty sure you have seen the work of Assaad Awad in celebrities such as Lady Gaga and Madonna (look at Madonna's accessories at the Superbowl 2012). It is very interesting to see the contrast between the timeless designs of Balenciaga and these modern pieces.

So…stop reading and plan a visit to Madrid and its “Museo del Traje”!