The Synthetic Revolution

The development of the first polyester Terylene in Accrington seemed to be the stuff of science fiction, inspiring films like The White Suit, while its mass adoption in the 1950s heralded a revolution in fabric composition and production which is captured in this exhibition curated by fashion historian and broadcaster Amber Butchart and artist Claire Wellesley-Smith. The impacts of this invention remain global and wide ranging and this exhibition charts how its invention transformed domestic labour and social life, fashion and cultural arenas and our environment today.