Electrolux zone: Good Creations Last Longer
From 12th to 17th September, the Electrolux Good Creations Last Longer zone will appear by the Musical Theatre in Gdynia. Its main attraction will be the exhibition of authentic film costumes from the CeTA (Audiovisual Technology Centre) collection, the successor of Wrocław Feature Film Studio. The presence of these costumes from CeTA in the Electrolux zone promoting closed circulation and environmentally friendly fashion is no coincidence, as the idea of circular fashion has been important to the institution for years. Costumes are regularly used in upcoming film productions and lent for etudes, performances as well as historical and educational projects. Upcycling workshops are also held, showing how to use no longer needed fabrics or pieces of clothing and create something completely new from them. The institution is currently working on further solutions in the area of circular economy, which will give a second life to costumes and will be another step on the road of good environmental practice in the film industry.
The exhibition in the Electrolux Zone in Gdynia will feature costumes from cult Polish films, worn by Polish film stars and made by the best Polish costume designers and costume makers. Each of the costumes has a rich history and has been used in various film productions or artistic projects without losing its original character. They are all a testament to their times, but also an example of the different creations that the film world needs. The exhibition will show historical, futuristic and contemporary costumes. These include Alphonse Van Worden’s costume from The Saragossa Manuscript, Izabela Łęcka’s dress from The Doll, Commander Pirx’s suit from the film Inquest of Pilot Pirx, Great Sharp’s suit from The Great Sharp and the white set of Krystyna, the heroine of Knife in the Water, used on the set of the film. The curator of the exhibition Good Creations Last Longer is Dr Aleksandra Jatczak-Repeć, a fashion and art historian, observer of the fashion industry and lecturer at the Department of Fashion at the Academy of Fine Arts in Warsaw.
It is amazing that the iconic creations we have the honour of showing in the exhibition did not end up in private or museum collections, but became the basis for a warehouse – a lending library. Gaining more than one cinematic life, they are at the same time a treasure trove of knowledge about the art of costume making from past decades, the creativity of costume designers, and a role model in a world seeking eco-friendly solutions. I am glad that the circularity of costume making, which has been used by the cinema world for years and which has been a taboo subject for decades, can now be shown as a model of valuable practices. It is my hope that their exposure may encourage audiences and viewers to change their own clothing behaviour. – says Aleksandra Jatczak-Repeć. – Film stars often become fashion icons. Their private and film wardrobe and style is eagerly imitated by female and male fans. Cult films become an inspiration and even a guideline for clothing choices – the stories and anecdotes surrounding them find their way into the media. Hence, we are showing these objects at the exhibition for the first time, also pointing to the fact that they circulate in various productions, believing that promoting circular behaviour in this way will be an additional contribution of the cinematographic community to changing our consumerist way of life. – adds Jatczak-Repeć, fashion and art historian.
The 47th Polish Film Festival will take place between 12th and 17th September 2022.
