RECORDS OF TIME
The Dress Archive grows from a love of dresses and a wish to slow down the speed of new production. Each garment is a record of daily life as it is carrying the shape of a body and specific eras through fabric, cut, and construction. The archive is run by me, Amanda Margareta Curtis, artist, researcher, and teacher. The project develops through the collaborations that are made with others that are up for the joy of playing with beauty.
Timeline: The dress archive in Progress
2007—>
Late 1980s—>
2010—>
2021—>
2026—>
Offline & online
The archive goes online.
Asia and the Transmongolian
Including train journeys on the Trans-Mongolian and trains throughout Europe and Asia. The Map Dress, found in Hong Kong in 2007, becomes a symbol of this period. The dreamandawake* project grows through collaborations with photographers and friends that through photo and video experiments give the dresses new life.
* Between asleep and awake, like garments paused between memory and use
2018—>
Writing & curing continues
Presenting the PhD Redesigning Together: Relearning Roles and the Value of Materials in the Overproduction of Fashion. The book is describing in more detail the potential with old materials in a community context.
Thrift, thrill & treasure
The first dresses are collected, marking the beginning of a long-term attraction to secondhand clothing and interest for how garments shape feeling, behaviour, and image through play.
2008—>
Exploring workshops
Developing and testing different installations with the dresses and redesigning workshops.
Paris
Setting up a studio in Paris. Series after series of photos being made in collaboration with fabulous photographers.
The first printed photo book, ”DNA01” is released (Dream&Awake, 2008, Hong Kong).
2024—>
"Me, myself & I"
The book "Me, myself & I" is released in collaboration with Daniele Ratti (Italy). This book shares glimpses of that which remains open and where we create new shades to the world we see in front of us. Exhibition and release Milan, 2024.
2009—>
Engaging press and creating visibility
Magazine collaborations and development of projects. Expand the presence of older clothes in media. During this period more dresses are collected and revived. Early photographic exhibitions are organised, and the first workshops are made.
* Between asleep and awake, like garments paused between memory and use
2011—>
More collaborations
Playing with different kinds of media using dresses as source of inspiration. Other concepts are developed around the redesign and rejuvenation of old textiles. Fast Forward Rewind- Lab (Sweden), 180/upsidedowncycle (Mozambique, Singapore), The Universe of SHE (Hong Kong) and The Life of a Dress (Mozambique, Mexico).
Not just a Number
Organising and labelling of more dresses that have been curing.
