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Knitted Circle

Evening Dress
1969 (made)
Artist/Maker
Place of origin

Yellow screen-printed silk chiffon dress with hood and overlong exaggerated bishop sleeves. Printed with a 'Knitted Circles' design in red and black.

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read An introduction to 1960s fashion Marked by sweeping social change, the 1960s is a decade that still holds a special significance, seeing traditional hierarchies begin to dissolve and make way for the birth of the modern age.

Object details

Categories
Object type
TitleKnitted Circle (named collection)
Materials and techniques
Screen-printed silk chiffon
Brief description
Evening dress of printed chiffon, 'Knitted Circle', designed by Zandra Rhodes, Great Britain, 1969.
Physical description
Yellow screen-printed silk chiffon dress with hood and overlong exaggerated bishop sleeves. Printed with a 'Knitted Circles' design in red and black.
Production typeHaute couture
Gallery label
(1997)
Garment and textile designs by Zandra Rhodes consistently reflect her visual experiences of travel and historical research. This hooded djellaba-style dress features her 'knitted circle' printed design, which was inspired by historical examples of knitting in the V&A's Textiles and Dress Collection.
Credit line
Given by Mrs Jack Heinz III
Object history
Given by Mrs Jack Heinz III through Cecil Beaton. Not referenced in catalogue, but is mentioned on addenda.
Historical context
In 1969, Rhodes created a set of textiles like the printed chiffon from which this kaftan was made, whose motifs were taken from knitting and embroidery stitches, called Knitted Circle. She then learnt how to cut patterns in order to produce her own clothes. She based the shape of the clothes on the textile print:

'So my first ever collection was born. It mainly featured the Knitted Circle print. I had designed in a circle, now I cut in circles and at last the creative circle was complete. I made swirling, dramatic shapes with no concessions to the saleable, the acceptable or the ordinary. The true Rhodes style came into being.'

The Art of Zandra Rhodes, 1984.
Association
Associated object
T.179-1992 (Colourway)
Other number
Z7 - design number
Collection
Accession number
T.358-1974

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Record createdSeptember 17, 2003
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