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Dakota Transit: Sonic Couture by Andrea Aranow
October 4-November 17
A retrospective exhibit showcasing patchwork snakeskin and leather fashions created by designer Andrea Aranow between 1968 and 1973 in NYC.
In New York’s legendary East Village neighborhood, Dakota Transit was Andrea Aranow’s statement on what high fashion ought to be: fun, expressive, and bold. The store opened at the peak of the “Youthquake” of the 1960s, a significant movement in fashion history, and fused elements of psychedelia and funk with a burgeoning proto-punk sensibility. Aranow became renowned for using suede, snakeskin, and leather, all stitched together in her signature patchwork style.
Between 1968 and 1973, Dakota Transit was in the avant-garde of a new, energetic movement in fashion, and the world took notice. Top fashion magazines like Vogue and Harper’s Bazaar featured Aranow’s garments alongside counterculture publications such as Rags and the East Village Other. New York socialites, artists, and some of the era’s most prominent musicians, including Jimi Hendrix and Miles Davis, sought her custom-made designs.
For the first time in over fifty years, original garments from Textile Hive’s Dakota Transit Collection will be on view to the public. Fashion and art enthusiasts will encounter never-before-seen photos, sketches, and other documents alongside her iconic textile designs to give visitors insight into Aranow’s unique creative process. The exhibit will celebrate the store’s origins and legacy in an unforgettable display of timeless style.
Dakota Transit was curated by Bryan Miller, the Special Collections Archivist at Textile Hive in Portland, Oregon. Having previously worked at several libraries and museums including Watzek Library, the Portland Art Museum, and the Oregon College of Oriental Medicine, Miller has a particular interest in historically overlooked materials of cultural and artistic significance, which informs his curatorial practice.
The exhibit opening is on October 1st from 6-9pm with live music.
Exhibit hours: Thursdays and Fridays 12-4pm, Saturdays and Sundays 12-5pm.
Hours may be extended for special events like talks, workshops, and openings.
Paid weekly tours will be given Saturday and Sunday mornings.
