Abingdon County Hall Museum Current Exhibitions

Saturday 6 September to Sunday 9 November 2008 - Annabelinda Retrospective -

Oxford fashion designer Belinda O'Hanlon, the founder of the Oxford Couture House Annabelinda, wishes to retire and hopes to find a kindred spirit to take the company into the future. She has a considerable amount of patterns, photographs, samples of materials and designs, and since the beginning of trading in 1970 these remain together as a collection which are to be premiered at Abingdon County Hall Museum from 6 September to 9 November.

Oxford has inspired creative and artistic luminaries over the centuries including the Pre-Raphaelites, especially William Morris. Annabelinda’s earliest designs took their inspiration from this fascinating creative movement, with their romantic feminine line of design, richness of fabrics and emphasis on the perfection of fine hand skills. Annabelinda still use such skills and attention to detail today which is why they are a rare jewel in the crown of haute couture.

Abingdon County Hall Museum has invited Annabelinda to present an exhibition drawing on their massive archives. The exhibition gives a glimpse into the magical world of designing and hand making the creations that have made Annabelinda unique.

The exhibition takes you through 37 years of unbroken creativity via photographs, sketches, silken fabrics, embroidery samples and publicity artwork. Most wonderful of all is the collection of beautiful clothes, reminiscent of the wings of a butterfly in a difficult fashion world, still beating and still captivating people with their exquisite manufacture.