Yvette Lauwaert
Collection of Ghent in the spotlight
On the occasion of the project Collections of Ghent, we are highlighting Ghent objects from our museum collection. Curious about more? Discover our collection stories and the world of textiles from 20 November in the CoGent-box at Tolhuispark in Ghent.
Operating from her boutique in Ghent, Yvette Lauwaert introduced innovative ideas into the Belgian fashion landscape of the 1970s. She found inspiration in London where the free street style challenged the conventions of Paris fashions. The comfortable evening dress, based on nightwear design and characterised by folklore, demonstrates this new creativity. As far as Lauwaert was concerned fashion was first and foremost an art form.
▼ Pink dress 1976 – Yvette Lauwaert I Coton I Donated by Yvette Lauwaert, 1979 I Collection Design Museum Gent
She mainly focused on individual expression and the intrinsic qualities of fabrics. Typical examples are the fun ties from the Touch Objects series. Their playful colours, shapes and structures invite you to touch them and are at odds with the otherwise distinguished status of this accessory. Lauwaert used ‘Bauhaus’ fabric, which she had bought in London, for a number of her ties. This design by Susan Collier and Sarah Campbell is based on a 1928 wall tapestry by Gunta Stölzl, the textile artist who initiated the Bauhaus weaving workshop. The dress and one of the ties were on display in the museum in 1979 as part of the Artistic textile creations by Yvette Lauwaert exhibition.
► Tie from the ‘Touch Objects’ series ca. 1972 – Yvette Lauwaert, Susan Collier and Sarah Campbell (fabric design), Liberty & Co. (fabric production) I cotton, wool I Donated by Lieven Daenens, 2006 I Collection Design Museum Gent
▼ Tie from the ‘Touch Objects’ series ca. 1970 – Yvette Lauwaert I Low-density polyethylene, water and ecoline I Donated by Yvette Lauwaert, 2019 I Collection Design Museum Gent
▼ Tie from the ‘Touch Objects’ series ca. 1972 – Yvette Lauwaert, Susan Collier and Sarah Campbell (fabric design), Liberty & Co. (fabric production) I cotton I Donation by Yvette Lauwaert, 2019 I Collection Design Museum Gent
Curious about more objects by Yvette Lauwaert or the collection of Design Museum Gent? Or feel like sharing your own story? Drop by the CoGent box or follow everything on www.collectie.gent.