Pioneers of the Material World

From peak to precinct, summit to street

On the 50th anniversary of the 1975 British Mount Everest Southwest Face expedition, this exhibition features original clothing from across a century, charting the story of Lancashire’s key role in this clothing revolution right up to present day, including its part in creating space suits and Luke Skywalker’s pilot suit.

The exhibition shows how performance clothing that emerged at the beginning of the last century for survival in the most extreme environments, clothing pioneers from Amelia Earhart to Edmund Hillary, from the Antarctic to the Himalayas, was later redefined by northern climbers, giving rise to brands like Berghaus and Rab, all rooted in northern ingenuity and material expertise.

These garments were then adopted by football fans who transformed them into terrace style while ravers donned them in all-night sessions. Now they can be seen in high streets and festivals from Tokyo to Manchester – everyday statements of pride, defiance, and belonging.

Presented in collaboration with the creators of the book, Mountain Style: British Outdoor Clothing 1953 – 2000