This display spotlights the lesser-known history of Indian indenture in the British Caribbean and the personal stories of Indo-Caribbean culture in London, exploring migration to the United Kingdom today.
Following the end of enslaved African labour, British planters in the Caribbean devised a new scheme to source cheap labour for their plantations: recruiting workers from India to work for three to five years in return for transport, a minimal wage and some basic provisions.
The first indenture ships set sail in 1838 and between then and its end in 1917, around 450,000 Indians undertook the long journey, taking up to five months, to the British Caribbean.
Conditions on board were poor and the journeys difficult, though strong bonds were forged between migrants as they crossed the Kala Pani or ‘dark waters’.
The display features letters petitioning the government from planter Sir John Gladstone, as well as contracts, shipping company records, postcards and papers from the Parliamentary Archives that give insights into the realities of life under indenture. The display also draws on photos, jewellery, film and artwork to uncover personal stories and family memories from London’s Indo-Caribbean community.
RELATED EVENTS
Indo + Caribbean closing sessions (Ages 12+)
14TH November | 6.30pm-8pm | Adults £12.00, Concession £8
Join us for a special day of talks, activities and liming inspired by our display Indo + Caribbean: The creation of a culture. Spotlighting the lesser-known history of Indian indenture in the British Caribbean, the display gives context to personal stories of Indo-Caribbean culture and its journey to and presence in London and the UK today.
With a curator-led tour, mixer and talks on genealogy, Carnival and the history of Indian indenture, this day will be an opportunity mark the final week of the display in style. This will also be a chance to meet our speakers and those who contributed to the display in a more informal setting. Take a look at an outline of the day’s talks below.
Fashion City: How Jewish Londoners shaped global style
Open 13th October 2023- 14th April 2024
Museum of London Docklands, No.1 Warehouse, West India Quay, London E14 4AL
Step inside a traditional tailor’s workshop in the East End and immerse yourself in the glitz and glamour of a Carnaby Street boutique at the height of the Swinging Sixties – when London was the world’s fashion capital.
For the first time, this exhibition will uncover the major contribution of Jewish designers in making London an iconic fashion city. Discover the stories behind the Jewish fashion makers who became leaders in their industries, founded retail chains still on the high street today, and dressed the rich and famous – including David Bowie, Princess Diana and Mick Jagger.
RELATED EVENTS
Fashion and migration in the East End and beyond (Ages 14+)
14TH November | 6.30pm-8pm | Adults £12.00, Concession £8
Learn how migration made London a fashion capital
Even though today the East End might be more associated with buying clothes than making them, the area has played a central role in the development of the fashion trade in London. A site for both home and work, the neighbourhood was often the first step for new arrivals looking to make a life in the city. From the Huguenot silk weavers and Jewish fashion workers to the Windrush tailors and Bengali seamstresses of later generations, the contribution of these new arrivals to making London the iconic fashion city it is today cannot be underestimated.
Inspired by our major exhibition, Fashion City, we invite our panel to take a closer look at these fascinating stories, explore the connections between these groups and discuss the impact they continue to have today.
Poetry and music at the museum (Ages 14+)
26TH November | 2pm-3.30pm | Adults £12.00
Mark the opening of our Fashion City exhibition with an afternoon exploring Jewish fashion through poetry readings and live music.
We’ve joined forces with cultural magazine Jewish Renaissance for an afternoon of words and music. Explore all that Jewish fashion has to offer, from family hand-me-downs to magic suits and stitches in time.
You’ll be treated to readings by prize-winning poets Jill Abram, Rachael Clyne and Jaqueline Saphra. Live music will be provided by internationally renowned singer Sarit Aloni, artistic director of Salisbury’s Larkhill Choral Society and founder of the Jewish Choir in Wimbledon.
Schmatte! A writing workshop (Ages 15+)
21st January | 1.30pm-4pm | Adults £25.00
Play with words and explore personal histories
Join spoken word poet Leah Thorn to explore your personal relationship to the clothing industry through flow-writing, poetry, story-telling and listening exchanges. This fun and moving workshop will support you to creatively express what the clothing industry means to you as a Jewish person and the impact it has had, and continues to have, on your life.
No previous experience of expressive writing is needed, just a willingness to have a go and play with words.
Leah Thorn is a spoken word poet, filmmaker and experienced workshop facilitator. Her award-winning poetry films have been screened at feminist, Jewish, eco and poetry Film Festivals internationally. Leah is the daughter and granddaughter of Jewish tailors and returns to her roots for her latest work. Her campaign ‘a:dress’ uses message-adorned clothing, textile art, poetry, film and Subversive Catwalks to raise awareness about fast fashion’s devastating contribution to the climate crisis.
From Petticoat Lane to Savile Row: A Fashion City late (Ages 18+)
25th January | 7pm-10pm | Adults £20.00, Concession £12
Enjoy music, talks, workshops and more
From Whitechapel to Oxford Street, the contribution of Jewish designers in making London an iconic fashion city cannot be underestimated. Join us to celebrate quintessential London style in an electrifying night inspired by our Fashion City exhibition.
Enjoy music, talks and workshops that immerse you in everything from colourful East End fashion to the glitz and glamour of Carnaby Street. Don’t be afraid to wear your finest and show what really makes the city a fashion capital!
Flex your fashion knowledge in our pub quiz, or spend time with brilliant speakers and learn more about the Jewish fashion makers who became leaders in their industries. You’ll also be able to enjoy our exhibition after hours with experts on hand to guide you during exclusive curator tours.
In focus: Dot Cotton’s coat (Ages 14+)
3rd February | 2pm-3pm | Adults £10.00, Concession £8
Explore a unique piece of fashion history
This talk with Bethan Bide will take a closer look at mass-manufacturing womenswear in the East End. You’ll learn about the role that Jewish-owned companies had in bringing clothes that were made to last but followed the latest fashions to the mass market.
The brown tweed Alexon coat famously worn by Dot Cotton in EastEnders is the perfect example of the longevity this quality allowed, given that it was purchased second hand and worn on set for many years.
This new series of talks will help develop a deeper understanding of a selection of pieces from the Fashion City exhibition. Join our curators and get an insight into the unique stories behind some of the more distinctive garments in the show and learn more about how Jewish Londoners shaped global style.
An evening with Mr Fish (Ages 14+)
5th March | 6.30pm-8.30pm | Adults £12.00, Concession £8
Explore a unique take on menswear
An evening celebrating Mr Fish, the Jewish ‘boy from Wood Green’ whose extraordinary creative vision became the centre of media frenzy in the sixties. Join us for an event that spans from the Swinging Sixties to the present to explore the playful and sometimes subversive approach to dressing adopted by Mr Fish and friends, which continues to impact fashion today.
From short talks exploring everything from the Peacock Revolution to David Bowie’s style, the evening will bring together fashion, music and conversation to reflect on the unapologetic individuality that came with Mr Fish designs and garnered a loyal following in everyone from fashionable young professionals to international celebrities.
In focus: Rahvis gown (Ages 14+)
9th March | 2pm-3pm | Adults £10.00, Concession £8
Meet the colourful characters of British couture
The final talk in the series with Lucie Whitmore takes a closer look at the work of some of the more colourful characters of British couture – Raemonde and Dora Rahvis. Best known for their feminine and highly decorative designs and the occasional attention-stealing gimmick, the sisters were well-known and respected couturiers in their time.
The highly embellished cream and pink silk evening dress that this talk focusses on showcases the Rahvis’ strengths. Whether using decorative embroidery, bright colours, bold patterns or creative tailoring, the Rahvis sisters knew how to make an impact. This made them popular with stars of stage and screen and London’s high society.
This new series of talks will help develop a deeper understanding of a selection of pieces from the Fashion City exhibition. Join our curators and get an insight into the unique stories behind some of the more distinctive garments in the show and learn more about how Jewish Londoners shaped global style.
Making the West End a fashion destination (Ages 14+)
9th March | 2pm-3pm | Adults £10.00, Concession £8
What does it take to create a fashion city?
Join us and learn more about the stories of Jewish designers, makers and retailers who made London’s West End a fashion destination. From the glitz and glamour of Carnaby Street boutiques to the sophisticated styles of couturiers, the West End has been home to a host of fashion makers who dressed the rich and famous and founded retail chains still on today’s high street.
In this discussion, we invite our guests to reflect on the broad range of fashion stories in the West End and explore how Jewish makers of all levels of fame and obscurity contributed to making London a fashion capital.
