Refashioning Bill Gibb for the 21st Century: Book Launch - Cowdray Hall

The unexplored legacy of Aberdeenshire-born fashion pioneer Bill Gibb (1943-1988) is redefined in a groundbreaking new book, Refashioning Bill Gibb for the 21st Century [https://www.bloomsbury.com/uk/refashioning-bill-gibb-for-the-21st-century-9781350444621/], published by Bloomsbury in January. Join us for the launch with insightful talks and discussion from a selection of contributors alongside the books editors Dr Shane Strachan and Josephine Steed, followed by an audience Q&A.

Bill Gibbgrew up on a farm in Fraserburgh, Aberdeenshire. After his talents were spotted by his art teacher at Fraserburgh Academy, he went on to study at St Martins School of Art in London. Awarded Designer of the Year by British Vogue in 1970, Gibbs fantastical designs encapsulated the vibrancy of the era. Despite his contemporary relevance and associations with fashion icons such as Bianca Jagger, Elizabeth Taylor and Twiggy, his legacy remains largely unexamined.

With a foreword by Gibbs former fellow student Dame Zandra Rhodes, Gibbs revolutionary work is rediscovered in the book with insights from experts in the field and interviews with Gibbs family, collaborator Kaffe Fassett and contemporary designer Giles Deacon. In three parts, the book focuses on Bills influences and collaborations, his fashion legacy, and the reinterpretation of Gibb today. It features previously unpublished fashion drawings and garments, offering a unique perspective on Gibb's artistic vision.
Talks at the launch will focus on Gibbs drawing and design process, his digital legacy, folklore-inspired fashions, and sustainability and climate change, with poetry performances inspired by Gibb throughout.

Alongside the books editors Josephine Steed and Dr Shane Strachan, speakers include renowned fashion journalist Iain R. Webb, former AAGM manager Christine Rew, circular fashion researcher and consultant Dr Lynn Wilson, and leading academics from RGU, Professor Peter Reid and Dr Karen Cross.

Speaker Biographies:

Dr Karen Cross studied textile design and worked as a knitwear designer, before moving into education. She is currently Associate Dean for Academic Development and Student Experience at Grays School of Art, Robert Gordon University, and leads the Fashion Management subject area. Karen's research focuses on the positive impacts of fashion, whether through the preservation of culture, heritage and artisan fashion and textile practices, sustainable fashion practices, or the role of fashion in providing a sense of identity, community, comfort and well-being to the individual. She is also interested in the use of immersive technologies within the fashion industry, to tell stories of place, provenance, and people.

Professor Peter Reid is professor at the School of Law and Social Science, Robert Gordon University. His work is centred around cultural heritage with a strong emphasis on the narratives of the North and North East of Scotland. He has a particular interest in uncovering neglected or forgotten stories, community identity and how it intersects with local culture and heritage, as well as the gathering, interpreting and disseminating of stories. He has recently been involved in projects connected with the creation of an historic film archive for Fraserburgh, Bill Gibb's hometown, and one examining stories of Scandinavian wartime exiles in North East Scotland.

Former manager of Aberdeen Archives, Gallery and Museums Service,Christine Rew is a decorative arts specialist who has curated several contemporary craft, jewellery and fashion exhibitions including Bill Gibb in 1990 and Bill Gibb the Golden Boy of British Fashion in 2003, the year that would have marked his 60th birthday. At Aberdeen Art Gallery she developed a significant collection of Gibbs work including archival material, fashion drawings, knitwear, daywear and couture garments, creating the most comprehensive collection of Gibbs creative output in the UK.

Josephine Steedstudied Constructed Textiles, specialising in Fashion Knitwear at the University of Middlesex and has a broad range of experience of fashion and textiles from designer/maker practice to textile design for mass-manufacture. She is currently Associate Dean for Research and formerly Course Director for BA (Hons) Fashion & Textile Design at Grays School of Art, Robert Gordon University. Josie has a particular interest in the role and relevance of traditional hand skills in contemporary textiles and the value and status of craft making. She was a co-organiser and co-chair of the online symposium Fashion, Fantasy, and Collaboration: The Legacy of Bill Gibb in partnership with Aberdeen Art Gallery in 2021.

Originally from Bill Gibbs hometown of Fraserburgh,Shane Strachanis a writer, performer and academic based in Aberdeen. His spoken word project The Bill Gibb Line is available online and was exhibited at Aberdeen Art Gallery, followed by further Bill Gibb-related work for V&A Dundee and in his debut poetry collection, DWAMS (Tapsalteerie). He was the 2022-23 National Library of Scotlands Scots Scriever writer in residence for which he was awarded Scots Champion at the 2023 Scots Language Awards. He holds a PhD in Creative Writing from the University of Aberdeen where he now lectures.

Iain R Webb is a fashion writer, curator and academic. He is Professor of Fashion & Design at Kingston School of Art and associate lecturer at CSM and Bath Spa University. During his career he has been fashion editor of BLITZ, The Evening Standard, Harpers & Queen, The Times and Elle. Publications include Bill Gibb - Fashion and Fantasy, As Seen in BLITZ, Vogue Colouring Book, John Galliano for Dior and Rebel Stylist: Caroline Baker, The Woman Who Invented Street Fashion . He has curated exhibitions at ICA, RCA, Somerset House, Fashion Museum, Bath, The Bowes Museum and The Holburne Museum. Latest projects: chapter contributions to Little Black Dress (NMS), Cracked Actor (Red Planet), Outlaws (Scala Arts & Heritage), and curating The Fashion Show: Everything But The Clothes exhibition at V&A Dundee (June 2023-January 2024).

Dr Lynn Wilsonis an award-winning academic researcher, educator, and entrepreneur in the field of circular fashion and textiles. Originally trained in Fashion and Textiles at Dundee University (1992) and Nottingham Trent (1994), Dr Wilson gained a PhD (Management), from University of Glasgow, 2022. Her research interests include consumer household experiences of clothing dirt, contamination, and hygiene, which leads to clothing being kept in circulation or disposed of. She is a visiting scholar and external examiner in various university fashion schools, in the UK and internationally.