British Asian Style: Debating Dress

British Asian Style is not the preserve of design professionals; anyone with a British Asian identity negotiates it every day, and many British people without South Asian ancestry also choose to style themselves with South Asian materials. In 2008 and 2009 the V&A held a series of group discussions designed to find out more about how people understand and feel about such issues. Separately, you can also read about Shivani Derrington’s research on how British Asian women approach their wardrobes.

  • Discussing objects in the V&A's South Asian Textile collection

    Discussing objects in the V&A's South Asian Textile collection.

    Discussing objects in the V&A's South Asian Textile collection in the textile store with Senior Curator (Asia) Rosemary Crill. Photographer: John Chase

  • Discussing objects in the V&A's South Asian Textile collection

    Discussing objects in the V&A's South Asian Textile collection.

    Sarah Mahaffy (Maharani Trading), Meg Andrews (textile dealer), Chris Breward (Head of Research, V&A Museum), Francine Seward (Associate Designer for East) and Madeleine Trehearne (Trehearne and Brar) examine one of Meg Andrew's antique Kashmir shawls. Photographer: John Chase

  • Examples of Pashmina Shawl collection

    Examples of Pashmina Shawl collection.

    Madeleine Trehearne displays examples of her pashmina shawl collection. Photographer: John Chase

  • Visitors discuss objects from the V&A's South Asian textile collection

    Visitors discuss objects from the V&A's South Asian textile collection.

    Visitors discuss objects from the V&A's South Asian textile collection in the textile store. Photographer: John Chase

  • Visitors discuss objects from the V&A's South Asian textile collection

    Visitors discuss objects from the V&A's South Asian textile collection.

    Visitors discuss objects from the V&A's South Asian textile collection in the textile store. Photographer: John Chase

  • The 'Desi Fashion: British Asian Style' event

    The 'Desi Fashion: British Asian Style' event.

    Photographer Gavin Fernandes talks about his work at the 'Desi Fashion: British Asian Style' event. Photographer: John Chase

  • The 'Desi Fashion: British Asian Style' event

    The 'Desi Fashion: British Asian Style' event.

    Fashion designer Liaqat Rasul talks about his work at the 'Desi Fashion: British Asian Style' event. Photographer: John Chase

  • The 'Desi Fashion: British Asian Style' event

    The 'Desi Fashion: British Asian Style' event

    Fashion designer Liaqat Rasul shows one of his designs at the 'Desi Fashion: British Asian Style' event, assisted by Chris Breward, Head of Research, V&A Museum. Photographer: John Chase

  • The 'Desi Fashion: British Asian Style' event

    The 'Desi Fashion: British Asian Style' event.

    Audience at the 'Desi Fashion: British Asian Style' event. Photographer: John Chase

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