HORROCKSES FASHIONS RETROSPECTIVE IN PRESTON, LANCS

Image: Dress designs, printed cotton by Horrockses Fashions. Photo by Simon Critchley

Horrockses Fashions: Everyday Glamour & the Art of British Ready-to-Wear celebrates one of Britain’s most iconic fashion labels. The exhibition at The Harris, Gallery One, marks the 80th anniversary of the launch of the Lancashire-based company, which fused couture sensibilities with high-quality printed cottons to create dresses that were at once accessible, stylish and unmistakably modern.

Horrockses’ dresses were worn by women from all walks of life, from mill workers to members of the royal family. Central to Horrockses’ success was their pioneering approach to textile design. The company collaborated with leading contemporary artists to create distinctive fabrics that elevated ready-to-wear fashion into a form of wearable art, notably on their full-skirted `New Look’ silhouettes.

Drawing on the world’s largest museum collection of Horrockses dresses, this show reveals the creativity, craftsmanship and cultural significance behind one of Britain’s most beloved post-war fashion labels.

The free exhibition runs from 19 September 2026 to 31 January 2027 and is supported by a new publication. For more information, visit the website Horrockses Fashions: Everyday Glamour & the Art of British Ready-to-Wear - The Harris