The exhibition’s first stop will be Melbourne’s vibrant art and design space, RMIT Gallery (February—May 2021), followed by venues in Tasmania, South Australia, New South Wales and Queensland.

Museum of Brisbane is home to the Easton Pearson Archive which, comprising more than 3,300 garments and more than 5,000 objects, accessories and ephemera, captures almost three decades of Australian fashion history.

Museum of Brisbane’s Chair Sallyanne Atkinson AO said that as the largest textile collection from a single Australian fashion house held by a museum or gallery, it is important that pieces from the Easton Pearson Archive are shared with audiences across Australia.

“Pattern and Print will provide Australian audiences with access to garments and accompanying ephemera that tell the detailed stories of Easton Pearson’s creative process and evolving aesthetic. The exhibition will also be an unprecedented resource for fashion, craft, art and design students, researchers, practitioners and design enthusiasts.”

MoB Director Renai Grace said the Museum was thrilled to be able to share an exhibition of such calibre and that it will be an inspiring experience for all lovers of fashion and an eye-opening one for those wanting to know more about the role of fashion in art, craft, design and culture.

“Host venues have a strong interest in contemporary textiles, practice and fashion design and are genuinely excited by the opportunity, identifying that the garments, supporting archival materials and high-quality public programs will engage and resonate strongly with their audiences.

Pamela Easton and Lydia Pearson were the storytellers of Australian fashion. Their designs remain cutting-edge, even today, due to Easton Pearson’s experimental, demi-couture processes and their passion for creating bespoke textiles, prints and embellishments as diverse as champagne bottle tops, raffia, silver thread and sequins, copper chain, felt, feathers and beads of almost every variety.”