Vintage 90s!


University of Wolverhampton and Wayne Hemingway ordain the 1990s officially 'Vintage'

 

The 1990s has officially become ‘vintage’. Iconic British designer and Vintage festival organiser, Wayne Hemingway, and the University of Wolverhampton has announced that the early nineties, 1990-1992, can now be classed and viewed as ‘vintage’. This is due to the twenty-year gap needed for full retrospection and evaluation of ‘vintage’ culture.

 

The nineties is set to make its debut at Hemingway’s renowned cultural festival, Vintage. Celebrating the ‘Best of British’ across music, fashion, art, design, food and film, the festival will incorporate the early nineties with Madchester style raves at the Warehouse, with DJs from the infamous Hacienda era such as Graham Park and Danny Rampling, legendary 90s club nights Sub Club and Back to Basics will be mixing it up side by side.

 

Pump Up The Volume will be hosting a special 1990s rave and fashion-wise, the Vintage Festival’s huge marketplace of 250 traders will be stocked up with a wide range of 90s garments and accessories– from grunge shirts to DMs, crop tops and peace sign jewellery to Alaia and Romeo Gigli and early John Paul Gaultier.  

 

From the reprise of bands like Pulp, The Stone Roses and Blur, to Damien Hirst’s exhibition at Tate Modern, right through to the nostalgic catwalk shows at New York and London Fashion Week – the nineties is certainly set to make an impact this summer. The distinct styles are already making their way onto British high streets; from body con bralets to brothel creepers, whilst 90s Commes Des Garcon and Yoji Yamamoto are flying out of vintage stores.

 

Well placed for the revival is festival masterminds Wayne and Gerardine Hemingway, contributors to the original movement with their iconic fashion label Red or Dead, who showcased their first catwalk show in 1989 and became British Fashion Council’s ‘Street Style’ Designers of the year in 1996, 1997 and 1998 consecutively.

 

Wayne Hemingway comments: “For me the nineties was a rare and exciting time, the last time that we had an original fashion look born from music; where everyone had an individual style, based on their musical tastes. This idea of ‘Cool Britannia’ where British music, and fashion, was a distinctive voice is very much in line with the nostalgia we are feeling at the moment and it’s great to see it now being classed as Vintage so we can enjoy it all over again!

 

“The Vintage Festival is a place of discovery – where families and friends can indulge in times gone by and younger generations can uncover them for the first time. Whilst the nineties may feel like not that long ago for some of us, times have certainly changed and it’s refreshing to look back with new eyes to truly enjoy the nineties cultural boom.”

 

Confirming its place in British cultural heritage, Patricia Dillon, Divisional Leader of Design and Applied Arts at the University of Wolverhampton comments:

"For something to be classed as Vintage it needs to be of sufficient quality of design and creative execution for it to stand the test of time and be relevant and desirable to future discerning generations. The 90s are now officially classified as Vintage because we are two decades on and a new generation is starting to discover and enjoy the creative fruits of musicians, designers, artists and film makers who delivered their ideas 2o years ago.

 

“Many of the courses in art, design and architecture, culture, film and media at Wolverhampton University attract students who were born in the early 90s.  They have a natural connection to the cultural heritage of that decade.  Looking at the creative output of the years when they were conceived and born means something to them and they invariably are inspired.  Poignantly, 1990 saw the birth of Photoshop and as a consequence design education has never been the same again. The ’90s have now had time to settle in as a productive yet anti-conformist period of experimentation”.

 

Taking place on the 13th-15th July in the stunning grounds of Boughton House, Northamptonshire, the festival will also curate a special Friday 13th special experience for festival-goers.

 

Expect the unexpected on this extra special fright night with a ‘Roller Rink of Doom’ hosted by popular club night Feeling Gloomy; a skating session to all your goth favourites. The Vintage cinema will be dusting off it’s hammer horror back catalogue, whilst the hair and beauty teams will be stocked with black lipstick and heating up the crimpers. There may even be some ‘Thrilling’ surprises round the festival grounds. 

 

Music will be very much in theme too; with 1970s punk heroes The Damned onstage as well as deadrock batcave pioneers Alien Sex Fiend and eyeliner-friendly new pop punk outfit Fearless Vampire Killers. Not forgetting the revival of Birmingham’s much celebrated Zombie Club, bringing along DJ Had to spin some scary sounds and get everyone in the mood.

 

Tickets are on-sale at www.vintagefestival.com

 

Notes to Editors

Notes to Editors:
● Wayne Hemingway MBE & Gerardine Hemingway MBE and some of the most experienced, knowledgeable and respected figures within the music, design, film and fashion and entertainment industries curate Vintage.

● Festival partners include cultural institutions such as the V&A, British Fashion Council, Design Council, Design Museum, Museum of London and The University for The Creative Arts.

● Vintage is taking place in the stunning grounds of Boughton Estate in Northamptonshire, for the first time. The Grade I listed park of 2345 acres boasts beautifully designed landscapes, waterscapes and woodlands and will be the perfect backdrop for the festival. The new site was also chosen for its accessible location, allowing more people to experience the festival. 80% of the population lives within two hours travel of the site.

April 30, 2012 1:57pm ET by Inkling Communications   Comments (0)

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