Ossie Clark exhibition opens in London with Celia Birtwell’s prints

The Ossie Clark exhibition at London’s Fashion and Textile Museum opened on 2 October. It pairs the designer’s razor-sharp cutting with the dreamy prints of his collaborator Celia Birtwell.

The show runs into April 2027 at 83 Bermondsey Street. FashionUnited reports more than 120 garments from private collections and loans from Birtwell herself.

Inside the Ossie Clark exhibition

The exhibition focuses on the years from 1965 to 1974. Clark brought tailoring skill and an instinct for the human form. Birtwell brought romantic, playful textiles. The Art Fund notes inspiration from the Ballets Russes and Art Deco.

The result moved from short 1960s silhouettes to the flowing dresses of the early 1970s. The show also follows the two careers after the partnership ended.

Curator Dennis Nothdruft, the museum’s head of exhibitions, says Clark’s skilful cutting may not have won the recognition given to other designers of the era. Their businesses lasted longer. Clark’s did not. This show argues for a fairer ranking.

Much of the material comes from a private collection of Clark’s designs. It covers his career from early work to later collections. That gives visitors rare close views of the construction behind the glamour.

Visiting details

The museum opens Tuesday to Saturday, from 11am to 6pm. Last entry is at 5.15pm. Standard tickets cost £12.65. Holders of a National Art Pass pay £6.33.

The museum is also showing Sequinology, a display about sequins. It runs workshops in fashion drawing and printing, too.

London’s autumn season is busy. We reported earlier on the Korea exhibition at the British Museum, which opened on 1 October.

For anyone who loves cut, colour and pattern, this is an easy recommendation. Book ahead, because weekend slots tend to fill first. The scale is modest, which suits an unhurried visit. Allow about an hour to see the garments properly. Bermondsey Street also has good cafes nearby for a break afterwards.

Fact basis: Art Fund, FashionUnited and Londonist listings, October 2026. Closing dates vary slightly between listings; check the museum before booking.