Isabel Toledo: Fashion from the Inside Out
June 16 – September 26, 2009
The Cuban-born fashion designer Isabel Toledo is often described as "a designer's designer." Although she is little known to the general public, her work is greatly admired by members of the fashion community. However, she has recently gained notoriety as the designer of Michelle Obama's inauguration day dress. Isabel's focus on technique, her willingness to experiment, and her strong personal vision make her work stand out. But other aspects of her career—her early rise to fame and subsequent years of struggle, her brush with organized crime, and her rollercoaster ride at a big fashion company—will be familiar to many in the modern fashion system.
Isabel works closely with her husband, the illustrator Ruben Toledo. As she begins to construct her visions, Isabel engages in intense discussions with Ruben, gesturing to show, for example, how the fabric should drape. “I think of it as fashion from the inside out,” she explains. "I can describe an idea or even a feeling to Ruben, and he'll sketch it."
This exhibition is organized by Dr. Valerie Steele, Director of The Museum at FIT; Patricia Mears, Deputy Director of The Museum at FIT; and Ruben and Isabel Toledo. Support for this exhibition is provided by the Couture Council of the Museum at FIT. Additional support is provided by Nordstrom.
