The current exhibition at the Fashion and Textile Museum in London celebrates the work of renowned textile designer, Sue Timney. This is a strong, dynamic show about the vivacious world of Timney’s creations. Upon entering the room, one is held by the bold monochromatic patterns of black and white colors, which stand in contrast to bold patches of bright hues. Timney’s keen eye for graphic pattern and her eclectic, magpie approach saw her ‘borrowing’ imagery from diverse sources, such as classical and architectural motifs, optical stripes, and tartan and tribal imagery. It is not shocking in her patterns to find a print of an antique bust juxtaposed with a musical instrument or a kitchen implement.

Born in Egypt, Timney spent her younger years in Libya, and also in Germany and Newcastle before finally moving London where she studied at the Royal College of Art and met her future husband, Graham Fowler. Her post-modern style was already defined and would remain her signature throughout her career.  After graduating, Fowler helped Timney print her patterns on ties and t-shirts. She later worked with Issey Miyake, Yohji Yamamoto, Ralph Lauren, and Diane von Furstenberg.

The exhibition records and provides samples of all kinds of Timney’s work to mark her 30 years as an iconic designer in fashion. On display are some of her projects done as a student at RCA, as well as products designed for her legendry store at Portobello Road. There are also a variety of materials on which Timney imprinted her patterns; cutlery sets, stationary, clothing, scarves, wall prints, and cupboards. Style commentator Peter York has described Sue Timney as ‘a proper post-modernist’; as he explains, ‘being a proper post-modernist means that you really have understood your sources, have a feeling for quality, and have the drive and discipline to make something that stands up in its own right.’

Until May 22

ANUBHA JAIN