‘North’ is a Liverpool expo exploring the many ways Northern England has been framed in fashion, art and photography and how its vast and distinctive cultural history has influenced design and media. The show is curated by ShowStudio editor-at-large Lou Stoppard and senior lecturer Adam Murray, and opens Friday January 6th at the Open Eye Gallery. The exhibition features early photography and original prints by greats like Nick Knight, David Sims, Glen Luchford, John Bulmer, Jamie Hawkesworth and of course Alasdair McLellan – whose touching images of working class Northern lads and girls like Agyness Deyn are each like poems to the region. The first thing you see when approaching the expo space are six striking columns, created by legendary Haçienda club architect Ben Kelly and Off-White’s Virgil Abloh ­­- who has always been inspired by the sound and graphics of 80s Northern England. There are also rare archive pieces of clothing on display, like a Raf Simons parka from his coveted Joy Division-inspired AW03 collection which featured Peter Saville prints, as well as designs by Christopher Shannon (a true Liverpuddlian himself) and recent Central Saint Martins graduate John Alexander Skelton. You need only consider the recent runway resurgence of brands once popularised by youths in Manchester or Liverpool (Sergio Tacchini, Fila, Kappa) for a reminder of that northern influence on fashion. Other works included are pieces by or featuring Corinne Day, Jeremy Deller, Stephen Jones, Paul Smith, Simon Foxton, Gareth Pugh. Honestly the list goes on and I already have one foot in an easyJet to John Lennon Airport.

“North: Identity, Photography, Fashion” 6 January – 19 March 2017 10:30 AM – 5:30 PM (Tue – Sun)

Open Eye Gallery 19 Mann Island Liverpool Waterfront L3 1BP https://www.openeye.org.uk

images (in order): Raf Simons, Alasdair McLellan, Nick Knight (1984), LOVE, Lou Stoppard, Corinne Day, ShowStudio