A landmark Naomi Campbell exhibit, Naomi: In Fashion, is coming to London's Victoria & Albert Museum this summer – and we could not be more excited about it. Tickets go on sale today for the exhibit, which launches on June 22nd and will run until 6 April 2025.
On 13 March, GLAMOUR was invited to an exclusive brunch hosted by Naomi at The Dorchester Hotel in Park Lane to mark the forthcoming and iconic exhibition celebrating Naomi's phenomenal 40-year contribution to the fashion industry. Guests at the intimate event included Alexander McQueen's previous creative director Sarah Burton, Academy award-winning director Steve McQueen and former British Vogue editor-in-chief, Edward Enninful, who has also helped curate the fashion photography at the forthcoming exhibition.
An emotional Naomi, dressed in a vintage Alexander McQueen suit, spoke to journalist Yomi Adegoke and V&A Senior Fashion Curator, Sonnet Stanfill, about feeling ‘overwhelmed' at both the prospect of the show and also the process of piecing together so many artefacts from her 40-year career, especially since she has now become a mother to two children under the age of 3. Speaking about collating the vast array of her personal clothes, jewellery and artefacts scattered across the globe – from New York to London – she said: “I guess I was going to save it for all my kids, it was a mess before, but now it's definitely more organised for them!”
Referring to Naomi's trailblazing status as a woman of colour in the fashion industry, the show's curator, Sonnet Stanfill was quick to point out: “Naomi's fight for diversity doesn't have its own special section. It's a thread that runs throughout the whole exhibition, it's more of a constant underlying theme throughout her whole life's work, with a special focus on her very close relationship with the late Nelson Mandela.”
However, Naomi said that despite the significant progress in diversity across the fashion industry, and acknowledging the achievements of her friend Edward Enninful's work at British Vogue, she also said that worryingly she fears that the industry has reached a point where it might be going backwards: “Will [diversity] remain?” That is a question I don't really want to think about but that is what I'm thinking about because as I am looking at the collections, I'm starting to get nervous that we are sliding back," she said. “Why do I stay doing what I do? Because my work is not done. I feel that I have to use my voice and platform to keep at them.”
Naomi also revealed that she was dedicated to the process of preparing for the exhibition, with 50% of the exhibits coming from her personal collection.
“I also realised that during this period of time [collating the exhibition] I had to stop working my day job, because I needed to really focus on making this right – and because everyone expects such a great show from me, I felt this extra pressure. But what I want to say is this is going to be a somewhat intimate side of me that people don't know and haven't seen – many don't know the stories behind the things we're going to present, and there are a lot of personal items that were given to me that I have never shown to anyone.”
She also spoke about the importance of honouring all the collaborators and designers she has worked with throughout her career: “I didn't want to forget anyone, and some of them are no longer here,” she said referring to Azzedine Alaia and Gianni Versace amongst others.
“Azzedine was a father figure to me, and Gianni too,” she said.
GLAMOUR also got to see a sneak peak of garments to be featured in the show, including the now-infamous Vivienne Westwood platform heels that Naomi famously took a tumble in – and styled out impressively – on the catwalk in 1998.
Due to open on June 22, 2024, the exhibit will delve into Naomi's fascinating career as a runway model in the 90s through to her rise to the top of the industry.
Here's everything we know so far…
The exhibition will highlight Naomi Campbell's groundbreaking modelling career
If you know anything about fashion history, chances are, you already know a lot about Naomi Campbell. The British model was first discovered at the age of 15 while out in London. Skip ahead three years to 1988, and Campbell was the first Black model to feature of on the cover of Paris Vogue.
Since then, Campbell has walked the runway for countless designers including Chanel, Versace, Gaultier, Valentino, Yves Saint Laurent, and more. She also walked the runway as a Victoria's Secret angel a number of times. She eventually became one third of the ‘Trinity’, the famous model trio that also included Christy Turlington and Linda Evangelista.
In more recent years, Campbell has branched out into film production, music, writing and activism.
This is the first time the V&A has put the spotlight on one model's career.
What will be featured in the Naomi: In Fashion exhibit?
“The first exhibition of its kind exploring the extraordinary career of fashion model Naomi Campbell,” reads the description on the V&A description of the exhibit. “Through the work of leading global designers and photographers we celebrate her creative collaborations, activism and far-reaching cultural impact.”
The exhibit promises to be a look at 40 years of Campbell's impressive career.
Alongside photos of her various runway appearances, it will also feature items worn by the model in shows over the years. The blue mock-croc 30.5cm high platforms Campbell famously wore (and fell down in) during a 1993 Vivienne Westwood show have been confirmed to appear, as they are currently part of the V&A's permanent collection.
The exhibition will also feature items from her career in activism to showcase her influence on fashion and culture over the past few decades.
“Naomi Campbell’s extraordinary career intersects with the best of high fashion," said the V&A;'s senior fashion curator Sonnet Stanfill. "She is recognised worldwide as a supermodel, activist, philanthropist, and creative collaborator, making her one of the most prolific and influential figures in contemporary culture. We’re delighted to be working with Naomi Campbell on this project and to celebrate her career with our audiences.”
When is NAOMI:In Fashion running at the V&A?
The exhibition will run from June 22nd 2024 to 6 April 2025.
Tickets are available to prebook now at the V&A.
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