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Celebrating the Jewish designers who dressed Bowie and Bond

Starman: David Bowie in the dress  created by Mr Fish for album cover (Alamy Stock Photo)
Starman: David Bowie in the dress created by Mr Fish for album cover (Alamy Stock Photo)

Fashion-conscious Londoners are being asked to go through their wardrobes for a new exhibition celebrating the Jewish designers who dressed everyone from Bowie to Bond.

A swinging Sixties Carnaby Street boutique will be recreated for the show alongside a more humble workshop from the height of the rag trade in east London.

The show, at the Museum of London Docklands, will focus on how Jewish Londoners became trendsetters in the fashion business.

As well as clothes from the museum’s own collection it is looking for garments made by names including Michael Fish — known as Mr Fish — who designed the dress worn by David Bowie on the cover of The Man Who Sold the World and shirts worn by Sean Connery in his first 007 films.

Mr Fish, whose gender fluid approach to fashion still resonates today, was famous for the luxurious fabrics and colours used in his design but is perhaps best known for his creation of the kipper tie with its distinctive wide cut.

Curators are also looking for menswear by Cecil Gee and womenswear by designers from Rahvis and Neymar to dressmaker Madame Isobel as well as hats by Otto Lucas who dressed names including Greta Garbo.

Fashion City: How Jewish Londoners Shaped Global Style opens in October and will run until April next year. Email fashioncity@museumoflondon.org.uk