New “Ecology of Fashion” exhibit at Academy of Natural Sciences – The Triangle

As Drexel University Dragons, it can be easy to lose track of how many opportunities, events and resources are available while juggling academic responsibilities. However, located just off Logan Square in the Academy of Natural Sciences of Drexel University is an exhibition that you should highly consider visiting: “The Ecology of Fashion.” Nestled on the second floor of the building, it is the first-ever exhibition that has been co-created by the Academy and the Robert and Penny Fox Historic Costume Collection at Drexel’s Westphal College of Media Arts and Design. The exhibit is a call to evaluate fashion’s relationship with the past, present and future in the context of the natural world and society.

Upon entering the exhibit, visitors are welcomed by an intriguing installation that features ‘donations by Plato’s closet’ in a tall pile of clothing. On first impression, visitors are confronted by the question of what evolving relationship fashion has with waste and how society continues to navigate through a cultural affection for excess.

After this point, visitors can mindfully walk through the space, winding around maze-like walls and panels telling pieces of the story. Although every corner has interesting insights on the topic, The Triangle will give you a glimpse into a few special collections and subjects that can be found in this artfully curated space.  

One of the overarching themes of this exhibit illuminated the versatility of natural materials that, throughout history, have informed the way humans create and inspire cycles of fashion. However, underneath it all is the question of how society stewards and upholds the ethics of how fashion draws from, or rather irresponsibly extracts from, the natural world.

Two items on the show give color to this dilemma. First, a selection of accessories prized and valued for centuries for unique properties thought to be derived from ivory and the Hawksbill turtle shell. These objects are also associated with African elephants being poached for their tusks and the endangerment of certain species due to hunting, pollution and habitat loss. Secondly, it is hard to miss the evening dress glows in a corner that communicates the nuances of dye and its impact on the environment. This red ensemble made of silk by Chado Ralph Rucci and courtesy of the Fox Historic Costume Collection, communicates that, for many years, certain dyes and colored textiles were associated with higher classes, because colors were challenging to produce. However, as the demands of industrialization welcomed the use of synthetic dye, a tradeoff for efficiency and lower cost continued to result in significant detrimental impacts on human health and the environment.

As society grapples with the complications of industrial applications for fashion with sustainability, there is a central paneled space that continues this narrative and redirects the conversation of the ecology of fashion into the present, carrying a hopeful, visionary light.

Visitors can take time to sit at a large wooden table that invites them to watch short videos on forward-thinking creators revolutionizing the footprint fashion has on the natural environment. Behind it is a panel showcasing a ‘waterless’ pair of jeans – a Levi Strauss and Co. initiative that advocates the possibility and importance of sustainable denim.

Lastly, the exhibit aims to not only inform the public but to also inspire sizable action for change. For example, in one section, an information plaque motivates people to engage in ‘Rebellion’ by ‘Repair.’ This principle is translated into reducing your own green footprint by purchasing less clothing and “caring for what you already own.” Investing in durable clothing and choosing to repair garments could be a way to ‘rebel’ against throwaway consumer culture and positively impact your environment.

Overall, “The Ecology of Fashion” is a multisensory and mindfully curated exhibit that uniquely illustrates the complicated relationships that have long existed between what people wear and the inescapable conscious responsibility to be kinder to the resources fashion draws from. Although this has only been a glimpse, you can let a trip to this exhibit be a way to unwind and regain your breath after finals week. The Academy of Natural Sciences is free for anyone with a Dragon Card. Other guests can refer to the information below:

• Adults (age 13+): $29 in person, $27 online
• Children (age 2-12): $25 in person, $23 online

Take a friend with you and be sure to take lots of photos.