On Tuesday, 2nd September, at the Osaka, Japan 2025 EXPO, the Malta Pavilion showcased ‘The Black Garment’, a défilé by Azzopardi studio. ‘The Black Garment‘ is commissioned by Arts Council Malta.
‘The Black Garment’ is a fashion project that explores the deep cultural and historical significance of the Maltese Għonnella, as a tactile continuation of Luke Azzopardi’s publication ‘Għonnella: Deconstructing the Garment’, first published in 2011. This collection combines contemporary couture with traditional folk dress, creating a dynamic dialogue between past and present, reality and imagination. It features six contemporary couture reactions inspired by the ‘Għonnella’, worn by live models as part of an immersive installation.
‘The Black Garment’ delves into the history of the ‘Għonnella’ and its use, blurring the lines between costume history and contemporary design, and commenting on how yesterday’s dress informs that of tomorrow.
The Malta Pavilion presents itself as a curated experience of art, history, and fashion, transforming rites of the past into a visionary statement for tomorrow’s society.
Supported by Malta Enterprise, The Malta Embassy in Japan, Malta Crafts Foundation, and Heritage Malta.
