schiaparelli and chanel celebrated in london exhibition with bronze sculptures by robyn neild

schiaparelli and Chanel celebrated in new Cromwell Place show

The renowned luxury fashion houses, Maison Schiaparelli and Chanel take center stage in a new exhibition at Cromwell Place in London. Award-winning sculptor Robyn Neild presents a curated collection of unique bronze sculptures depicting iconic designs created by Elsa Schiaparelli and Coco Chanel from 1926 to the present day. Organized by fashion illustration gallery Gray M.C.A, the show pays homage to the enduring legacy and rivalry between the two iconic designers, showcasing not only their influence but also the craftsmanship embedded in Neild’s work.

Chanel 2019 | all images courtesy of Gray M.C.A

Coco Chanel and Elsa Schiaparelli’s legacy

Coco Chanel (find more here) and Elsa Schiaparelli (find more here) revolutionized women’s fashion, introducing provocative and innovative creations that liberated the female form in distinct ways. Chanel’s designs broke free from corsetry, allowing women unprecedented comfort and freedom. Meanwhile, Schiaparelli’s daring surrealism not only challenged fashion norms but also expressed women’s intellectualism and wit, breaking through societal constraints.

In the 1920s and 30s, these visionary designers fearlessly translated their dynamic personalities into creations that pushed the boundaries of female acceptability. Despite their infamous rivalry, with Chanel dubbing Schiaparelli as ‘The Italian’ and Schiaparelli referring to Chanel as ‘The Milliner,’ their collective impact formed a legacy that continues to inspire and shape the world of fashion. A century later, their influence resonates, shaping the work of the greatest fashion designers globally.

Schiaparelli 2022

Robyn Neild’s Interpretation of Chanel and Schiaparelli’s Icons

In this latest exhibition at Cromwell Place (find out more), Robyn Neild (find more here) breathes life into Chanel and Schiaparelli’s iconic designs. Drawing from her background in fashion design, Neild brings her strict discipline in the assemblage of garments onto the wax figures that replicate runway designs. 40 unique bronze sculptures capture the essence of the legendary designers by incorporating fluid lines and intricate embellishments, such as botanicals and organic materials.

‘Chanel’s commitment to fluid lines, often generously embellished, showcases the brand’s commitment to craftsmanship. On the garment different techniques would be used to disguise certain parts of the figure and enhance other areas and I want to try and capture some of these fine textural qualities in my bronze castings,’ Robyn Neild explains. ‘Schiaparelli’s dramatic vision uses the body as a motif to create exaggerated silhouettes featuring sculptural and architectural elements, making use of trompe-l’oeil and giving garments unconventional twists that provide an exciting provocation to my sculptural work,’ she adds.

‘Robyn Neild’s use of the lost wax technique is magnificent. Once perfected, the figure is encased in plaster and placed in a furnace to burn away the wax creation, leaving a hollow silhouette into which molten bronze fills every fine niche. The figure that emerges is rich in texture, capturing the craft and complexity of the original garment. And yet with these sculptures, Neild does not solely pay tribute to the craft within her fashion inspirations but shares her imaginative flair and fearless attitude. The figures are the culminations of technique, study, insight and experimentation. Their confident stances worn with timeless ease. Robyn Neild has found an exciting new language to communicate fashion,’ Ashley Gray Gallery Director of Gray M.C.A and curator of The Italian and the Milliner says.

Schiaparelli 2022