Dusting off the Eighteenth Century with Ian Griffiths, Max Mara

Join us to celebrate the opening of our new season including the launch of our exhibition, Masterpieces from Kenwood: the Splendour of British & French Painting.

There have been various revivals, but in the early 1980s, the eighteenth century was the height of fashion. On the post-punk scene, young people, including Ian Griffiths, posed and pouted like peacocks in clubs such as Blitz in London and Pip’s in Manchester. With extravagant hair, make-up, and costumes, the most popular ‘looks’ were inspired by the dandies, pirates, and highwaymen of the eighteenth century. Spread by bands like Adam and the Ants, Spandau Ballet, and Bow Wow Wow, it became a major fashion trend.

Vivienne Westwood and John Galliano continued to be inspired by the period, their designs frequently echoing specific works by Gainsborough, Boucher, and others. However, in Ian Griffiths’ visits to various fashion schools in the UK and overseas, he has noticed that few students today reference the Baroque or the Rococo. He wonders whether historical sources like these are now regarded as dry, dusty, or even problematic.

Griffiths has always been a fan of Voltaire, particularly his picaresque novella Candide, written in 1759 as a rebuttal of the philosophy of optimism. While searching for a muse for Max Mara’s autumn/winter 2023/24 collection, he discovered Voltaire’s long-term lover, Emilie du Châtelet—an eminent philosopher and scientist whose work is still consulted today.

In his talk, Ian Griffiths will describe his relationship with the Age of Enlightenment, how the Marquise du Châtelet led him back to the eighteenth century, and how he found in the world of Gainsborough, Kauffman, and Boucher a source of rich inspiration.

Tickets £15
This event is now fully booked.
Tickets for this Event can be cancelled up to one week beforehand. Refunds will be given after this date only if the ticket is re-sold.

Event information:

• This event will be held in the Landscape Studio which is accessible via lift.
• The Watering Place café is open for refreshments before the start of this event.

About Ian Griffiths

Creative Director, Max Mara

Ian Griffiths was born in the UK and studied Art and Design in Manchester at the time of the new wave music scene, which has been a lifelong influence.

He studied Architecture initially, then Fashion. He graduated with a first class honors degree from Manchester then joined the Masters course at the Royal College of Art in London. One of his first projects at the RCA was a competition organised by Max Mara. As a result of winning the competition, he joined the company as a designer on graduating in 1987. He has always shared the company’s philosophy of wearable modern classics, discrete luxury and intelligent design.

Ian began teaching at Kingston University in 1990 and was Head of Fashion at Kingston from 1992 to 2000. His aim was to develop creative talents focused on the needs of the fashion business, building close links between industry and education. He has a strong interest in the intellectual framework of fashion and currently is a Visiting Professor at the Royal College of Art. He has been awarded Honorary Doctorates at the Royal College of Art and Manchester Metropolitan University, and an Honorary Professorship at University of the Arts Norwich.

Ian is Creative Director of the Max Mara label with a team of designers from around the world. He believes in fusing the brands luxurious appeal with a streetsmart sense of cool. He lives between Italy, London, Spain and his country hideaway in Suffolk. His interests include contemporary art and culture, music, architecture and gardens