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Biological Atelier: The Showroom at Manchester Craft & Design Centre, preview: The future of fashion?

Suzy Prince

We preview designer Amy Congdon’s futuristic new exhibition, as the European City of Science comes to Manchester Craft & Design Centre.

Imagine a future where cosmetic surgery has been replaced by tissue-engineered skin, embellished with precious stones, and our bodies are capable of growing seasonal jewellery. And materials are no longer fashioned form fabrics but from cells. Is this science fiction, or could it be a real glimpse into the fashion houses of the future?

As part of the European City of Science celebrations, designer and researcher Amy Congdon is exploring just this with her Biological Atelier: The Showroom exhibition: looking at exactly how tissue engineering could be used to grow new biological textiles for the fashion industry. Her forthcoming exhibition at Manchester Craft and Design Centre is a showcase of some of the exquisite jewellery and skincare that she’s produced using future luxury and bespoke biological textiles.

Is this science fiction, or could it be a real glimpse into the fashion houses of the future?

It is fragile, beautiful and thought-provoking stuff, housed in one of Manchester’s most original and iconic venues: a former Victorian fish and poultry market which is now home to 18 independent studio shops, in addition to its exhibition space which specialises in showcasing crafters, designers and makers.

9 June – 28 August, with a free launch event on 9 June from 6-8pm with refreshments and live music from MCDC’s resident DJ Ailsa McLaggan of Living Room Dance Club.

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