Add a listing
Add a listing

Westwood | Kawakubo: World-Premiere Exhibition Opens at NGV International

Westwood | Kawakubo: World-Premiere Exhibition Opens at NGV International

The NGV’s major summer exhibition Westwood | Kawakubo has officially opened at NGV International in Melbourne, bringing together two of the most influential and boundary-breaking designers of the modern fashion era. This world-premiere exhibition pairs British designer Vivienne Westwood (1941–2022) with Japanese designer Rei Kawakubo (b. 1942) of Comme des Garçons for the first time. 

Although they grew up in different countries and cultural contexts, both designers reshaped global fashion with their radical ideas, rule-breaking silhouettes and bold challenges to traditional notions of beauty, gender and clothing.

Westwood | Kawakubo: World-Premiere Exhibition Opens at NGV International
Image: Westwood | Kawakubo, credit: Yoothz

The exhibition showcases nearly 150 groundbreaking designs, exploring how Westwood and Kawakubo have each redefined fashion across five decades. Visitors can see important international loans from leading museums including The Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York, the Victoria & Albert Museum in London, Palais Galliera in Paris, and the Vivienne Westwood archive. These works are displayed alongside more than 100 pieces from the NGV Collection, including over 80 newly acquired items and 40 works gifted directly by Comme des Garçons especially for this exhibition.

Westwood | Kawakubo: World-Premiere Exhibition Opens at NGV International
Image: Westwood | Kawakubo, credit: Yoothz

Presented thematically, Westwood | Kawakubo guides visitors through five major themes that shaped each designer’s career. These include Punk and Provocation, highlighting Westwood’s iconic punk ensembles from the 1970s, worn by bands like The Sex Pistols, as well as Kawakubo’s early works that captured the energy and disruption of punk. Another section, Rupture, explores their shared desire to challenge conventions and reinvent the language of dress through deconstruction, unexpected materials and sculptural forms.

Westwood | Kawakubo: World-Premiere Exhibition Opens at NGV International
Image: Westwood | Kawakubo, credit: Yoothz

In Reinvention, the exhibition looks at how both designers drew inspiration from the past and future. Westwood’s collections often featured references to eighteenth-century art and historical dressmaking, including her famous Portrait collection. Kawakubo’s designs embraced clashing patterns, bold textures and playful shapes that defied traditional ideas of taste and harmony.

The theme The Body: Freedom and Restraint examines how Westwood and Kawakubo have consistently questioned expectations around the female body in fashion. Their work reshaped silhouettes, challenged ideas of perfection and encouraged freedom in how people express themselves through clothing.

The final section, The Power of Clothes, focuses on the role of fashion as a form of communication. Westwood’s late collections, such as Propaganda and Chaos Point, used clothing as a canvas for political and environmental messaging. Kawakubo’s Uncertain Future collection reflects on global concerns, power and vulnerability through striking printed imagery and sculptural shapes.

Westwood | Kawakubo: World-Premiere Exhibition Opens at NGV International
Image: Westwood | Kawakubo, credit: Yoothz

Alongside the fashion pieces, the exhibition includes photography, runway footage and archive material, giving visitors deeper insight into the creative processes behind both designers’ work. A dramatic gallery highlights how each designer has been influenced by history, with Westwood’s sweeping silk gowns placed beside Kawakubo’s bold interpretations in pink vinyl and rich jacquard. Another room contrasts their approaches to tailoring through tartans, tweeds, plaids and sculptural silhouettes.

Westwood | Kawakubo: World-Premiere Exhibition Opens at NGV International
Image: Westwood | Kawakubo, credit: Yoothz

IMPORTANT INFORMATION

Westwood | Kawakubo is now on display at NGV International, St Kilda Road, Melbourne, from 7 December 2025 to 19 April 2026. Entry fees apply, and tickets can be booked via the NGV website.

Frequently Asked Questions: Westwood | Kawakubo at NGV International

What is the Westwood | Kawakubo exhibition about?

The exhibition highlights the groundbreaking work of Vivienne Westwood and Rei Kawakubo, two of the most influential fashion designers of the past 50 years. It features nearly 150 designs that explore themes like punk, innovation, reinvention and the power of clothing.

Where is the exhibition being held?

Westwood | Kawakubo is on display at NGV International on St Kilda Road, Melbourne.

When is the exhibition open?

The exhibition runs from 7 December 2025 to 19 April 2026. Standard NGV opening hours apply.

Do you need to book tickets?

Yes. Entry fees apply and booking ahead is recommended—especially during weekends, school holidays and peak summer periods.

Does the exhibition include anything confronting for a younger audience?

The exhibition does not include graphic or distressing content. Some outfits explore unconventional silhouettes, political themes and punk-inspired design. These elements are displayed respectfully within an art and fashion context.

How long does the exhibition take to walk through?

Most visitors spend 60–90 minutes exploring the exhibition, depending on their interest level and whether they watch the included runway and archival footage.

Recent Posts

We aim to provide accurate information on teen events, places and support services across Australia. However, we recommend parents check details directly, as details, dates, times, and prices may change.

Yoothz - Discover programs, events and support for teens

Explore Teen Events, Places, and Support Services around Australia
{{ range.label }} {{l10n.pick}}

Comments

  • No comments yet.
    • Add a comment

    Leave a Reply ·