Visitors can soon walk through a curation of iconic garments and accessories documenting supermodel Naomi Campbell’s expansive 40-year career. Showcasing her dedication to breaking barriers as a model and muse, “NAOMI: In Fashion” runs from June 22, 2024 until April 6, 2025, via London’s Victoria & Albert (V&A) Museum.
The groundbreaking exhibit is the first to spotlight and celebrate “the skill and contribution of an individual model to the fashion industry.” Notably, Campbell is the first Black model to cover TIME magazine and Paris Vogue (now Vogue France). Having graced hundreds of runways, Campbell is a longtime muse to some of fashion’s most regarded creators.
Visitors will see pieces from Vivienne Westwood, Dolce & Gabbana, Gianni Versace, Azzedine Alaïa, Kenneth Ize, Thebe Magugu, and more.
The V&A notes that “NAOMI: In Fashion” pulls from the booked and busy model’s personal wardrobe. Displaying “haute couture and ready-to-wear ensembles,” the exhibit enlivens “key moments in her career.”
The exhibition is curated in collaboration with Edward Enninful, former British Vogue editor-in-chief who is also Campbell’s close friend. Additional displays include pieces from the V&A and loans from designer archives. The London-based curation boasts eight sections highlighting Campbell’s life. From beginning to end, they are: Becoming Naomi, Supermodel, Azzedine Alaïa, New York, The Spotlight, Exemplar, Alchemy, and Archetype.
“Woven throughout [the exhibit] is Campbell’s activism, having advocated for equity from an early age, joining the Black Girls Coalition in 1989, and fronting the 2007 ‘A Black Issue’ of Vogue Italia — calling for diversity on the catwalk,” said the V&A.
How Does Naomi Campbell Feel About The Exhibit?
The 54-year-old mother of two was involved in building the fashionable curation of her life, alongside Enninful. In several late June Instagram posts, she described the exhibit as a display of her most closely held values.
“This exhibition is dedicated to the people who have been the driving force behind my ‘determination, dedication, and drive’ mantra,” Campbell shared on June 21. “[To] my mother, Valerie Morris, whose love, sacrifices, and unshakable belief in me have always given me courage. [To] my children, who inspire me to lead with my heart and be my best self every day. And of course, [to] my incredibly talented fashion family. You are the force behind my force, and this is my tribute to you!”
How Can I See The Exhibit, And Where?
If you’re looking for fashion and culture in London, this exhibit is at the V&A South Kensington on Cromwell Road. “NAOMI: In Fashion” is in Gallery 40, and tickets are about $23 per person.
