WHEN FASHION MEETS SHAKESPEARE

BY SARA DARLING

​LEE LAPTHORNE: FASHION MAVERICK FUSES FASHION WITH HISTORY

Lee Lapthorne is a many of man hats- and is understandably well respected in the fashion industry. Having mentored talent at his ON | OFF project, he has produced shows, collaborated on commercial projects and worked with music artists, which go someway to demonstrating his pivotal role in conceptual art.  

Most recently, he has contributed as Artist-in-Residence at the Shakespeare Birthplace Trust, the independent charity which cares for the five Shakespeare heritage sites in Stratford-upon-Avon. 

This led to two Shakespearean-inspired furniture classics, which were brought to life with Lapthorne's unique illustrations, fabric manipulation and hand printing. 

Taking inspiration from carefully preserved interiors of Shakespeare's properties, along with the Trust's extensive collection (with over 1 million items), Lapthorne chose to focus on ​the Bard's Rest - a re-interpretation of a Greaves & Thomas pop-up sofa, using intricate embroidery from a 16th century sweet purse, and the original rosette from David Garrick’s Shakespeare Jubilee of 1769

The Love Settle, is an outdoor garden lounger which features a modern-interpretation of Shakespeare’s quotes, characters from his plays and items from the collection, including the famous Second Best Bed.

The Bard's Rest will be displayed in Hall’s Croft - the elegant Jacobean home of Shakespeare’s daughter Susanna, and her physician husband John Hall.

The Love Settle can be seen in the stunning gardens at Anne Hathaway’s Cottage.

11 March – 15 September 2019