London's costume culture focus of new exhibition

London's culture of costume and celebration is the focus of a new exhibition opening in east London.

Making More Mischief: Folk Costume in Britain will open at the London College of Fashion in Stratford on 9 April.

It will feature items from Notting Hill and Hackney carnivals as well as Pearly Kings and Queens and club culture.

The Museum of British Folklore is involved in the project and said it aimed to "present British folk traditions in unexpected ways".

Traditions such as Doggett's Coat and Badge Race, which has been running for more than 300 years on the River Thames, will feature alongside Swan Upping, Morris dancing and the Hackney Clown Festival.

The free exhibition will span three floors and include costumes and stories from their wearers.

It follows on from the 2023 Making Mischief exhibition, which looked at folk customs across Britain.

Organisers said this year's iteration would look at class, sexuality and ethnicity within the capital's folk cultures.

Included in that is an "immersive installation" about an arts platform that began as a house party off Brick Lane 10 years ago, as well as sections looking at the relationship between mud larking in the River Thames and the pearl button, and masquerade dance at Hackney carnival.

Simon Costin, of the Museum of British Folklore, said: "Folk customs are constantly changing and evolving, and we hope Making More Mischief at London College of Fashion captures that."

The exhibition is open from 9 April to 22 June from Tuesday to Saturday. It is being supported by The National Lottery Heritage Fund.

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