Skirt Suit thumbnail 1
Not currently on display at the V&A

Skirt Suit

1972 (made)
Artist/Maker
Place of origin

The bee was Bill Gibb's signature motif, ('B' for Bill) and appeared often in his designs. He used enamel bee buttons and produced knitwear with bee designs. This suit is one of a group of chestnut-brown leather garments screen-printed with silver bees and trailing chrysanthemums. The leather is treated as cloth, with puffed sleeves and a high-waisted silhouette. The Museum also has a coat from this collection (T.171-1992)

Bill Gibb's designs were particularly influenced by non-Western dress. He revelled in rich textures and patterns and lavish use of fabrics. This coat comes from his first solo collection for Autumn-Winter 1972. Previously, he had worked for Baccarat from 1968 to 1971, before launching his own design label.


Object details

Categories
Object type
Parts
This object consists of 2 parts.

  • Jacket
  • Skirt
Materials and techniques
Screen-printed leather
Brief description
Woman's suit, jacket and skirt, brown leather screenprinted with silver bees and chrysanthemums, pattern designed by Sally MacLachlan, designed by Bill Gibb, London, Autumn-Winter 1972.
Physical description
Brown leather jacket and skirt screen-printed with silver trailing chrysanthemums and bees. Pewter/grey metal buttons stamped like sunflowers.
Production typeModel
Marks and inscriptions
'Bill Gibb / London' (Label inside garment)
Credit line
Given by Carole Hill
Object history
Bill Gibb's first collection, in autumn-winter 1972, featured a collection of chestnut-brown leather garments screenprinted with silver bees and trailing chrysanthemums. The theme of the collection was "Nature".

Registered File number 1995/891.

Historical significance: Important example of Bill Gibb's work from his first solo collection. Also shows his use of his trademark bees motif.
Production
Autumn-Winter 1972 collection.

Reason For Production: Retail
Subjects depicted
Summary
The bee was Bill Gibb's signature motif, ('B' for Bill) and appeared often in his designs. He used enamel bee buttons and produced knitwear with bee designs. This suit is one of a group of chestnut-brown leather garments screen-printed with silver bees and trailing chrysanthemums. The leather is treated as cloth, with puffed sleeves and a high-waisted silhouette. The Museum also has a coat from this collection (T.171-1992)

Bill Gibb's designs were particularly influenced by non-Western dress. He revelled in rich textures and patterns and lavish use of fabrics. This coat comes from his first solo collection for Autumn-Winter 1972. Previously, he had worked for Baccarat from 1968 to 1971, before launching his own design label.
Associated object
T.171-1992 (Version)
Collection
Accession number
T.334, 335-1995

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Record createdMarch 20, 2007
Record URL
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