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Portland Fashion in the Aughts
October 3-October 31
A collaborative exhibition celebrating the origins of Portland’s DIY fashion movement between 2000 and 2010.
Documenting the creative DIY fashion movement of Portland, Oregon between 2000 and 2010, the exhibit captures this pre-Instagram era through images, narratives, and ephemera gathered by the community and curated by former fashion editor of The Mercury, Marjorie Skinner.
Portland, Oregon at the end of the 20th century was a town at a remove from fashion’s capitals. However, Portland was gathering momentum for an era in which its “maker culture” would inspire the world. Defined by a hyper-local approach to consumer goods, a celebration of this ethos was about a decade away from being broadcast by the New York Times, Portlandia, and Project Runway.
The “aughts” would see Portland apparel designers create an industry that offered unique alternatives to mainstream and mass-manufactured clothing. Aesthetically, it rarely referenced the dictums of the global fashion establishment, more focused on expression than commerciality. The exhibit shares this moment in Portland’s creative history through images, fashion pieces, and film collected to preserve a facet of the city’s cultural originality.
Opening reception: October 3rd, 5:00pm-8:00pm
