Esquire Singular Suit Exhibition at Somerset House

Esquire’s ‘Singular Suit’ Exhibition opens at Somerset House.

World-famous fashion designers team up with leading artists to create one-off suits that bring together art and style.

The biggest names in fashion, design and art have been commissioned by Esquire magazine to create a unique and daring exhibition that celebrates the iconic staple of the male wardrobe — the suit.

The Singular Suit project, which launches at Somerset House in London on 31 July, brings together the creative talents of some of the best designers, tailors and artists in the world.

Esquire asked 18 leading fashion designers and tailors to collaborate with a major artist of their choice to create a bespoke, one-off suit that represents their skills and artistic vision. Their efforts have culminated in an extraordinary array of pieces, from the wearable to the outlandish.

Designs include an Aquascutum and Antony Gormley creation made entirely from metal plates and lead-filled trousers (pictured) and a “naked” organza suit by Spencer Tunick and Richard James. Louis Vuitton designer Paul Helbers has teamed up with Christian Schoeler to fashion a heavy suit made entirely from a painted canvas, while Henry Holland has worked with Marc Jacobs’ tattooist, Scott Campbell, to create a leather mustard-coloured suit with tattoo-style markings of supermodels’ names on the sleeve. Norton & Sons and Turner Prize-winner Jeremy Deller have drawn inspiration from Winston Churchill by re-creating the prime minister’s “Siren Suit” — a trademark suit that Churchill designed for himself during the war, while a suit by Donatella Versace and light artist/designer James Clar has lightsabers bursting from the seams.

The suits took three to six months to produce, and were shipped to London from all over the world. Some were held on suspicion by customs for weeks on end, while others had to be dismantled for the journey and then put back together again. They will be exhibited at the Terrace Rooms, Seamen’s Hall, Somerset House from 31 July to 31 August. Many of the designers and artists will attend a special launch party at Somerset House on 29 July.

The suits have also been photographed to appear in a unique portfolio in the special hardback September edition of Esquire magazine, on sale 6 August. A must-have for all fashion-conscious men, the September issue features more than 60 pages dedicated to the suit. The issue will not only appear in hardback on the newsstands, but Esquire will be producing a limited edition VIP slipcase, designed especially for the magazine by Ralph Lauren.

Esquire editor Jeremy Langmead says: “The designers and artists who took part in Esquire’s Singular Suit project have visually re-defined what the suit represents; the imagination and work involved is incredible. It’s extraordinary to see so many creative forces, from two of the world’s most influential mediums, presenting their work under one roof.”

The full list of designers and muses collaborating in the Singular Suit project are:

Richard James with artist Spencer Tunick
Sir Paul Smith with sculptor Richard Woods
Christopher Bailey of Burberry with musician George Craig
John Galliano with photographer Zanna
Patrick Grant at Norton & Sons with Turner Prize-winning artist Jeremy Deller
Kim Jones at Dunhill with artist Terence Koh
Graeme Fidler at Aquascutum with Turner Prize-winning sculptor Antony Gormley
Henry Holland with Scott Campbell (Marc Jacobs’ tattooist)
Dolce & Gabbana with designer/architect/sculptor Ron Arad
Donatella Versace with light artist/designer James Clar
Tommy Hilfiger with musician Marky Ramone
Paul Helbers at Louis Vuitton with artist Christian Schoeler
Kris Van Assche at Dior with artist Mat Collishaw
Italo Zucchelli at Calvin Klein with artist Nate Lowman
Giorgio Armani with theatre designer/artist Robert Wilson
Bruno Pieters at Hugo Boss and artist Jan De Cock
Ralph Lauren with Ferrari
Frida Giannini of Gucci with Mark Ronson

The Singular Suit project opens to the public at the Terrace Rooms, Seamen’s Hall at Somerset House from 31 July – 31 August. Free Admission. Opening hours 10:00 – 18:00.

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