The late Debo, Duchess of Devonshire and textiles from the Devonshire Collection inspired the Erdem Spring Summer 2024 Collection, with the creative process displayed in the ‘Erdem: Imaginary Conversations’ Exhibition at Chatsworth House!
In 2023, the Chatsworth textiles team welcomed eminent fashion designer Erdem Moralıoğlu, alongside his design team, to explore historic textiles archived in the Devonshire Collections. Taking inspiration from the late Duchess Deborah, Erdem’s Spring/Summer 2024 collection references and reinterprets historic patterned textiles, as well as the shapes, silhouettes and styles she wore (including her iconic Insect Brooches).
Imaginary Conversations: An ERDEM collection inspired by Duchess Deborah, provides insight into Erdem’s creative process, from the initial thrill of discovery when delving into the Chatsworth archives, to the artistry and techniques of designing new clothes.
Set within the guest bedrooms, the exhibition brings together historic prints and drawings, textiles, jewellery and photographs, with the eclectic taste of Deborah, the late Dowager Duchess, woven throughout. Key looks from the Erdem SS24 collection will sit alongside the source material. Collectively, these stories of the past and present pay tribute to British craft and flair, reinforcing Duchess Deborah’s inimitable spirit and vision.
‘I have always wanted to create a collection on Deborah, Duchess of Devonshire and the history of Chatsworth. I have long been fascinated by her story and found the archives at Chatsworth to be endlessly inspiring.’
– Erdem Moralioglu MBE
‘Chatsworth’s fashion archive is perhaps a lesser-known part of the collection, but seeing Duchess Deborah’s clothing inspire this new body of work by Erdem, and being able to bring these pieces back to Chatsworth with the original source material has been an incredibly rewarding process. Debo loved clothes and creativity and I hope she would be quietly pleased to see all these things she enjoyed inspire Erdem and fuel his work.’
– Lady Burlington
Imaginary Conversations celebrates how Chatsworth, and the Devonshire Collection, can inspire the artists, makers and designers of today.
22 June – 20 October
Chatsworth | WMagazine | Harper’s Bazaar | Erdem
Duchess of Devonshire’s Tiaras
Devonshire Parure
Ruby Clasp
Craven Brooch
Insect Brooches
Devonshire Tiara
Devonshire Diamond Rivière
Ruby Clasp
The Girls of Great Britain and Ireland Tiara
