The Metropolitan Museum of Art’s Costume Institute Spring 2016 exhibition, titled Manus x Machina: Fashion in an Age of Technology, focuses on the role the handmade and machine-made play in the creation of haute couture and avant-garde ready-to-wear, and their symbolic associations over the years.
The exhibition opens to the public on May 5 after debuting Monday at the annual star-studded Met Gala, hosted by Anna Wintour.
With over 120 pieces displayed – including designs from Christian Dior and Coco Chanel, and contemporary talents like Nicholas Ghesquiere, Miuccia Prada and Karl Lagerfeld – the exhibition seeks to challenge visitors’ perceptions.
Pieces that may seem highly futuristic, like Iris van Herpen’s bird dress from July 2013, are in fact mostly created by hand, while iconic vintage garments were made with the help of machines.