Zandra Rhodes: A Life in Print, on display at The Holburne Museum from January to May 2026, offers a focused look at the designer’s work through the lens of textile design. Rather than presenting a traditional fashion retrospective, the exhibition centres on Rhodes’ use of print, showing how her designs develop from initial concept through to finished garments.
"Colour just makes me feel very good… it brightens one’s life"
About Zandra Rhodes
Zandra Rhodes is a British fashion and textile designer whose career began in the 1960s. She is widely recognised for her distinctive visual style, characterised by hand-drawn motifs, strong colour combinations, and an expressive approach to pattern. Her work is closely tied to screen printing, a technique that allows for visible line work and variation within the fabric itself.
Over several decades, Rhodes has produced a large body of work, building an archive that reflects both continuity in her design language and ongoing experimentation with form, colour, and composition.
Exhibition Layout and Structure
The exhibition is organised around what are described as “hero prints.” Instead of arranging garments by decade or collection, each section focuses on a specific motif or textile design. This curatorial approach allows visitors to see how a single print is used across multiple garments and how it changes through variations in scale, placement, and colour.
More than 30 looks are included, spanning the 1960s to the 1980s. The garments are displayed on mannequins posed to suggest movement, helping to show how the textiles behave when worn.
Focus on Print and Process
A key feature of the exhibition is its emphasis on print as a central element of Rhodes’ work. In many cases, the textile design appears to guide the structure and construction of the garment, rather than simply being applied to a finished shape.
The display highlights how drawn lines, repeated motifs, and colour relationships contribute to the overall effect of each piece. By presenting multiple garments featuring the same or related prints, the exhibition makes it easier to compare how these elements are adapted across different designs.
Audio and Context
An audio guide narrated by Rhodes accompanies the exhibition, offering additional insight into her process and influences. She references a range of sources, including travel, cultural imagery, and personal sketches, providing context for how individual prints and collections developed.
Overall Impression
A Life in Print presents Rhodes’ work with a clear emphasis on textile design and visual language. By focusing on print rather than chronology, the exhibition offers a different perspective on her practice, highlighting the relationship between surface design and garment construction.
It provides an opportunity to see how her ideas evolve across multiple pieces and over time, while also giving a closer look at the role of print within fashion design.
Feeling inspired and fancy printing your own designs? See our range of custom suppliers for fabric printing below:
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