De Montfort University Leicester To Open Major Exhibition Celebrating Fashion Icon Dame Zandra Rhodes
Leicester, UK – October 2026 – De Montfort University Leicester (DMU) will open a landmark exhibition celebrating the work of fashion icon Dame Zandra Rhodes, following her decision to donate a significant part of her personal archive to the university.
Zandra Rhodes: Archive Unfolded will showcase highlights from a donation spanning six decades of Rhodes' career, from 1964 to 2025, featuring thousands of objects including licensed work, press cuttings, film, opera material and colour transparencies.
The gift follows Dame Zandra's Honorary Doctorate of the Arts from DMU in 2023, when she announced her intention to place a key part of her archive with the university's Special Collections.
Established in 2020, the Zandra Rhodes Foundation exists to preserve her legacy and open up her archive as a learning resource for future generations.
Explaining her decision, Dame Zandra said: "I formed the foundation when I realised my extensive archive could do so much more than sit in personal storage, unseen by anyone beyond my studio team. After learning about the university's special collections and its impressive facilities and opportunities available to students and staff, I knew I wanted to build a connection with the institution to help inspire the creative minds of today and tomorrow."
At DMU Museum, visitors can explore Rhodes' iconic Autumn/Winter 1983 Mediæval Collection in depth, tracing its journey from historical research and sketches to finished garments and runway.
Carolyn Hardarker, Head of the School of Design Innovation, said the archive had already made a significant impact on students: "It is a great privilege to collaborate with Dame Zandra and her team on the forthcoming exhibition, which will celebrate this remarkable resource."
Katherine Short, Head of De Montfort Special Collections, added: "There's such a vibrant energy to Zandra's works and it's so inspiring to see and handle original sketches, tracing their development through the collection from drawing to finished garment."
Professor Katie Normington, DMU's Vice-Chancellor and Chief Executive, said: "They are an inspiration to our students and visitors and her confidence in bestowing these to us demonstrates our world-leading status as a fashion educator."
Entry to Zandra Rhodes: Archive Unfolded is free and open to all members of the public, with a programme of associated events and workshops running alongside the exhibition, including tours for local school children.
About De Montfort University Leicester
De Montfort University Leicester (DMU) is a leading institution for art, fashion and design education, home to Special Collections that support teaching and research across the university.
DMU is committed to preserving cultural heritage and making it accessible as a learning resource for students and the public alike.
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Zandra Rhodes: Archive Unfolded will showcase highlights from a donation spanning six decades of Rhodes' career, from 1964 to 2025, featuring thousands of objects including licensed work, press cuttings, film, opera material and colour transparencies.
The gift follows Dame Zandra's Honorary Doctorate of the Arts from DMU in 2023, when she announced her intention to place a key part of her archive with the university's Special Collections.
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