Before seeing Westwood | Kawakubo, the NGV’s world-premiere summer blockbuster exhibition, discover the fascinating careers and legacies of British designer Vivienne Westwood and Japanese designer Rei Kawakubo. Learn about these two global icons of the fashion world and their most impactful designs and collections of the last forty years.
Through a showstopping display of more than 140 innovative and ground-breaking designs, Westwood | Kawakubo explores the convergences and divergences between these two self-taught rebels of the fashion world.
Hear from Danielle Whitfield, Curator, Fashion and Textiles and Skye Firth, Senior Conservator, Textiles as they introduce the exhibition, exclusively for Members.
Please note your ticket to this Members Talk does not include entry to Westwood | Kawakubo. Before attending the talk, experience the exhibition in an exclusive before-hours viewing. Learn more and book your ticket
Danielle Whitfield is Curator of Fashion and Textiles at the National Gallery of Victoria (NGV). Since joining the NGV she has curated numerous exhibitions and spoken and published widely on the history of Australian and international fashion. Recent projects include NGV Triennial (2023, 20), Melbourne Now (2023) Alexander McQueen, Mind, Mythos, Muse (2022) presented in partnership with the Los Angeles County Museum of Art, Gabrielle Chanel, Fashion Manifesto (2021) presented in partnership with the Palais Galliera; and Collecting Comme (2019).
Skye Firth is Senior Conservator of Fashion and Textiles at the National Gallery of Victoria (NGV). Since graduating with a Masters of Arts (Conservation) from The University of Melbourne, she worked in private conservation practice specialising in silks, embroidery and military flags. Since joining the team at the NGV she was worked on fashion exhibitions such as The Krystyna Campbell-Pretty Fashion Gift (2019), Gabrielle Chanel, Fashion Manifesto (2021), Alexander McQueen: Mind, Mythos, Muse (2022) and most recently Martin Grant (2025).