The ’90s were a decade clouded in a haze of nostalgia, accompanied by blurry photos and half-remembered events. As fashion and culture, with their cyclical nature, look back to the past, discussions have turned to the iconic time period. And one of London’s leading museums has joined the discussion with an exhibition that transports visitors back in time to the much-discussed era.
‘THE 90s: ART AND FASHION’ is a brand new exhibition that recently opened at Tate Britain. Curated by Edward Enninful OBE, who has shaped much of contemporary fashion for the past three decades, the exhibition attempts to recreate the intangible feeling of the 90s. Just what was it that sparked such a wave of creativity and collaboration that had such an impact on British culture? If an exhibition can attempt to answer that question, it might be this one.
Naturally, we had to go along and check it out for ourselves. Check out our visit below.
THE 90s: ART AND FASHION
The exhibition acts as a wide-ranging portrait of the decade. With every aspect of culture rubbing off on each other, particularly as ’90s music and fashion constantly influenced and informed the other, a snapshot of the time period has to spread itself pretty far. And Edward Enninful OBE is leaving virtually no stone unturned.
The 90s was truly a decade like no other. There was a sense of “boundless opportunity” in the wake of the end of the Cold War, especially as “Britain began to emerge from recession”. Possibility was around every corner, and the British spirit was raring to be let free. Enninful was right in the heart of it, as an 18-year-old storming into the world of fashion and journalism.
Visitors can expect to see a wealth of photography from the likes of:
- Juergen Teller
- Nick Knight
- David Sims
- Corinne Day
As well as photography, there are pieces on display from some of the most popular artists of the time, such as:
- Damien Hirst
- Gillian Wearing
- Yinka Shonibare
And given how fashion-obsessed we all were during the 90s, the exhibition also showcases collections from the decade’s definitive designers. Among them are pieces from the likes of:
- Vivienne Westwood
- Alexander McQueen
- Hussein Chalayan
🖼️ ‘THE 90s: ART AND FASHION’ will run at Tate Britain from October 8, 2026 – February 14, 2027. Find out more here.
