The life and wardrobe of Naomi Campbell will be celebrated in a special V&A exhibition.

The Victoria and Albert Museum in London has disclosed additional information regarding its upcoming exhibit showcasing the 40-year journey of British supermodel Naomi Campbell.

This will be the first time the South Kensington museum hosts an exhibit highlighting the career of a current fashion model.

NAOMI: The exhibit “In Fashion” will highlight important points in Campbell’s professional and personal journey by showcasing 100 specially chosen outfits from her personal collection. These garments will include both ready-to-wear and high-end designer pieces.

Many of the pieces chosen typify key moments in the model’s career, including a 1989 Thierry Mugler car-inspired bustier, the pair of blue Vivienne Westwood platform shoes worn when she famously tumbled on the catwalk in 1993 and her 2019 Met Gala Outfit by Versace.

Guests will find a large collection of items from well-known fashion labels like Alexander McQueen, Azzedine Alaïa, Burberry, Chanel, John Galliano, Virgil Abloh, and Yves Saint Laurent, among various others.

The exhibition will also feature fashion photography curated by former British Vogue Editor-in-Chief Edward Enninful, with work by Campbell Addy, Nick Knight, Peter Lindbergh and Steven Meisel.

53-year-old model, born in Streatham, London, was discovered at 15 years old in Covent Garden. Her career took off and she made history in 1988 as the first Black model on the cover of Vogue Paris.

The exhibit will center around Campbell’s well-known efforts in activism, particularly her advocacy for racial equality since a young age. She first joined the Black Girls Coalition in 1989 and was the face of the 2007 ‘black issue’ of Vogue Italia.

NAOMI will acknowledge Campbell’s mentors, including Nelson Mandela, whom she attributes as the motivation for her charitable and philanthropic efforts. The two had a personal relationship, and he referred to Campbell as his “honorary granddaughter” on one occasion.

“Another part will analyze the strong personal and professional connection between Campbell and the late Azzedine Alaïa, a designer from Tunisia who was based in Paris. Campbell affectionately referred to him as “Papa”. Alaïa welcomed the young model into his home and studio at the beginning of her career, and with her mother’s approval, Campbell lived with the designer, his partner, and their dogs as she rose to fame in the world of modeling.”

Campbell and Alaïa collaborated often, creating mesmerizing runway looks and influential fashion campaigns. The V&A exhibit will include a leopard-print bodysuit from the 1991 Autumn/Winter collection, famously worn by Campbell in a Herb Ritts photo shoot for Interview magazine.

Campbell expressed gratitude for being chosen by the V&A to showcase her wardrobe to the public.

Sonnet Stanfill, Senior Curator, Fashion, V&A, said: “Naomi Campbell’s extraordinary career intersects with the best of high fashion. She is recognised worldwide as a supermodel, activist, philanthropist, and creative collaborator, making her one of the most prolific and influential figures in contemporary culture.

“We are thrilled to collaborate with Naomi Campbell on this project and honor her accomplished career with our viewers.”

While it is not the initial occurrence of a display regarding a person who is still alive at this institution – there was a presentation on Kylie Minogue’s life and achievements in 2007 – this exhibit is significant as it is the first time an extant model’s career is being honored.

The Independent recently recognized Naomi Campbell as one of the 50 most influential women from various industries including the arts, politics, business, and sports in celebration of International Women’s Day.

The event entitled “NAOMI: In Fashion,” presented by BOSS, will take place from June 22, 2024 to April 6, 2025. You can purchase tickets on the V&A website.

Source: independent.co.uk