V&A gallery / fashion and photographs.

I have visited the V&A gallery and take some photographs of different traditonal wear and of the patterns designs on some of the fashion dresses.

Fashion Industry V&A

In the 19^th century fashion benefited from advances in technology. The development of spring steel led to the invention of the ‘cage crinoline’. This frame of light strong steel wire replaced heavy layers of petticoats and women’s dress became even more voluminous. Although ridiculed by the press, crinolines were very popular and produced in their thousand.

I have putted this little information about the dresses back in the time because it’s interesting to know more about the women’s fashion and especially I do agree that women’s dresses are replaced with the heavy layers dress to became more voluminous because that’s how the traditional dresses are looking like and I can kind of match all this information together and compare the dresses back in the time together with the traditional dresses from different countries in the world.

I had difficultness to find any bar, shops in London with Mexican traditions instead of Nando’s Restaurant but I haven’t seen anything interesting that could catch my eye in there and I could talk about, instead of food which it’s hot and spicy. I know that the main dish in Mexico its called burrito which it’s a wrap with the meat, vegetables and chilli sauces inside it. By the way I would like to focus on fashion mostly by trying to link up all the information which I have collect so far by looking at the Colombian Shop Market, Restaurants, and Museum in London. Because I couldn’t find exactly the Mexican Restaurant with the tradition decorations I have visited the V&A gallery.

I have research for the clothes that could look similar or kind of remind me of the Mexican and South American wear. I have gone to the Fashion exhibition in the gallery and I have founded many interesting dresses with the flowers designs and especially colourful dresses which I was looking for. Because I have chosen difficult Subculture I have to work harder to find as much information as I could to write about it and develop my research more forward by visiting the galleries shops and restaurants. I could not travel to Mexico to get all this information so I have to collect them all in London which is kind of easy because we got mix of cultures and we can get to know more about them and their traditions.

I have visit V&A gallery and went to look at Fashion or any South American exhibition but I couldn’t find that much and I have focused on the traditional dresses.

I have found some interesting dresses which had the flowers design made by the weave technique. I have seen other interesting dress which was sewn with the sequins the whole dress and the flowers design. I found it interesting because it was shiny and the flowers design was sewn into different colours which were interesting. This dress has been exhibit on the manikin with the wallpaper on the back which has the flower design on it and which has remind me of the South American design patterns.

I have also look at the Wedding Dress 1851, which was made in England and it was made with the cotton muslin lined with linen and trimmed with bobbin lace. The dress is linked with the marriage of Eliza Sneath to Joseph Candlin in Sheffield. This dress got my attention because it was white and it has the flowers design fabric next to it. I really like the shape of this dress because I could see the connectivity with the traditional wear in South America because they got this kind of shape and colours of the dresses.

I have looked up the other interesting garment which was the blazer and the wallpaper behind the blazer. This garment looks like it has the print making on it and weave techniques. Leafs design could be done with the print making technique because it has light colours on it and it looks like it has been printed on the fabric. The other flowers design with were very colourful and bright could be done with the weave technique because I can see the thread very closely and sewn into the fabric. I like this idea because I can see that this garment has been created in many ways by using different techniques which is interesting and especially the wallpaper which have the same colours and the techniques as this garment. I like the whole idea that has been presented because it shows the clothes back in the time and the traditional designs and colours.

Photo Shot / South American Style

I have create my own photo shot which will show all the colours and South American wear.


Stylist & Make up - Joanna Betlinska 
Model - Dagmara Drzymota
Photographer - Anna Betlinska

Photos from the interview / food / traditional birthday and wear and house decorations.

Interview / South American Style

I have made an interview with the Colombian family who live in London for many years and who still love their country and still keeping their traditions till to now days. I have asked them 20 questions about their culture and I got interesting information about them and more knowledge and understanding about South America culture, traditions and fashion.

These are the questions and answers below:

I - Hi Claudia I am going to ask you few questions about your country and traditions for my Subculture Research for my university work.

Claudia – No Problem.

I – Ok can you tell me what are the main South American colours?

Claudia – The colours are Red, Yellow and Blue.

I – Which pattern design are the most common in Colombia?

Claudia – The most common patterns are the flowers.

I – What is yours traditional wear?

Claudia – The women’s wear are Black long skirt and white big t-shirt and red flowers on the hair.

Men’s wears are white hats, red tie, white shirt and black trousers.

I – How is your traditional wear different to a man and a women?

Claudia – Women’s have a dress and the man has trousers and this is the only difference but the colours stay the same.

I – What is the name of your traditional music?

Claudia – Cumbia, Horopo and Bambuko.

I – Who is your president?

Claudia – Is a man and his name is Juan Manuel Santos.

I – What is the women’s law?

Claudia – No equal right but many years ago women’s main to be a housewife and a man should work and women’s couldn’t vote.

I – How is woman different to a man in Colombia?

Claudia – Many years ago man was above women e.g. job title, the women was not allowed to work but now a days women’s are above the man’s (laugh). 

I – How is your traditional weeding looks like?

Claudia – We don’t really have the traditional weddings but the main tradition in Colombia is 15(anos) it means 15^th birthday ( girl’s only).This tradition it’s a main one because on that day  girl’s became the women’s and on the celebration day the father its changing his daughter shoes to the heels and that’s how the all celebration works with the dance, food and long hours like celebration on a weeding day. Mexico does do it too.

I – Ok Claudia what is your traditional dish?

Claudia - Sancocho - it’s a soup made with potato with vegetables and meat. It’s a big dish. 

Bandeja Paisa – it’s red kidney beans, rise, mixed meat, fried eggs, plantains ( looks like a green banana) salad and avocado.

I – Which sport is the most common in Colombia?

Claudia – Tejo and Sapo.

I - Which car is the most common in your country?

Claudia – It’s a Jeep.

I – Which instrument is common in Colombia?

Claudia – It’s guitar, maracas and acoredon.

I – In which religion do you believe?

Claudia – Catholic

I – What is family relationship in Colombian culture?

Claudia – The family are very close together.

I – Which animal is the most common in Colombia?

Claudia – The animals?? Hmm are horses and Cows.

I – Are you allowed to marry your cousin in your culture?

Claudia – They do married cousins but not in the church because the church it’s not giving the permission only civil marriage it’s allowed.

I – Which drink (alcohol) is the most popular and what does it looks like?

Claudia – It’s a Aguardiente it’s kind of like tequila shots. 

I – Which drink it’s the most common in your country?

Claudia – It’s a coffee (puindio)

I - Which part of the body does Colombian piercing the most?

Claudia – Eras.

I – Thank you Claudia for your help and for your time and everything that you have shared with me today.

Claudia – No problem I hope I have gave you enough information.