Horrockses Fashions: Everyday Glamour & the Art of British Ready-to-Wear

Marking the 80th anniversary of the launch of Horrockses Fashions, this exhibition explores how the Lancashire-based company fused couture sensibilities with high-quality printed cottons to create dresses that were at once accessible, stylish and unmistakably modern.

Horrockses quickly became synonymous with effortless elegance. Its dresses were worn by women from all walks of life, from mill workers to members of the royal family. Famously, Queen Elizabeth II packed several Horrockses cotton dresses for her 1953–54 Commonwealth tour, demonstrating how the brand’s refined yet practical designs could move seamlessly from garden parties to global diplomacy.

Central to Horrockses’ success was their pioneering approach to textile design. The company collaborated with leading contemporary artists to create distinctive fabrics that elevated ready-to-wear fashion into a form of wearable art. Bold florals, graphic geometrics and striking modernist motifs appeared on their  full-skirted ‘New Look’ silhouettes.

Drawing on the world’s largest museum collection of Horrockses dresses, this exhibition reveals the creativity, craftsmanship and cultural significance behind one of Britain’s most beloved post-war fashion labels.

Free