Barbican exhibition Dirty Looks explores the “disruptive” potential of dirt

Barbican curator Karen Van Godtsenhoven and assistant curator Jon Astbury discuss the subversive role of dirt in fashion in this video produced by Dezeen to mark the opening of the Barbican’s new exhibition.

Dirty Looks: Desire and Decay in Fashion brings together 120 works by 60 different designers from around the world to explore how dirt has been used across fashion.

The exhibition features pieces by iconic designers including Vivienne Westwood, Alexander McQueen and Issey Miyake, alongside original commissions from emerging young designers.

Dirty Looks: Desire and Decay in Fashion is at the Barbican Centre until 25 Jan 2026.

Thumbnail image: Dirty Looks, Installation views, Barbican Art Gallery, Thu 25 Sep 2025 – Sun 25 Jan 2026 David Parry / Barbican Art Gallery 

WATCH NEXT: Barbican’s Unravel exhibition explores the subversive power of textiles” – https://youtu.be/HQOFJtXbHEc

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