24 January – 10 May 2026
The Holburne is delighted to present Zandra Rhodes: A Life in Print, an exhibition showcasing a spectacular array of Dame Zandra Rhodes’ vibrant screen-printed garments from the 1960s, 70s and 80s. Displayed as complete ensembles on dynamically posed vintage Adel Rootstein mannequins, the outfits are arranged into ‘hero print’ sections, each one telling the story of a Zandra Rhodes signature print and how Rhodes has translated them into her iconic garments.
Within the Holburne’s historic Ballroom, this vivid staging celebrates Rhodes as a trailblazer in colour and screen-printed textile design, who completely redefined the role of print in fashion. It highlights Rhodes’ mastery in working with print as a structural influence on garment shape and her skill in harnessing print and colour make garments sing with life on the body.
After earning an MA in Printed Textiles from the Royal College of Art in 1964, Rhodes broke new ground as one of the first designers to marry the craft of screen-printing with fashion design, launching a distinctive career that has spanned 6 decades and continues to evolve today. Establishing her eponymous label in 1969, she has screen-printed and designed over 100 fashion collections. Her bold garments have dressed rockstars and royalty, including Freddie Mercury and Princess Diana, and in 2003 she founded London’s Fashion and Textile Museum.
The display of vintage mannequins, generously loaned by Fashion Museum Bath, will take visitors on a journey through Rhodes’ most iconic prints and the inventive ways she has transformed them into garments.
Beginning with a grouping of Buttonflower printed ensembles designed in 1971, an engaging audio tour, narrated by Rhodes herself, accompanies the display, offering deeper insight and adding an intimate dimension. From travel to nature, Rhodes shares how the inspiration behind each print begins with observation and sketching. She reflects on how her hero prints have been reinterpreted for collaborations with leading fashion and lifestyle brands. In the Lilies hero print section, mannequins dressed in her Lily-printed garments recline on Lily-printed bed Rhodes designed for Savoir Beds. Rhodes also shares stories of the cultural icons who have worn her exhibited garments, including a yellow Buttonflower coat dress worn by Joanna Lumley in Absolutely Fabulous, a green Field of Lilies ensemble worn by Bianca Jagger, and a white beaded Button and Bows dress worn by Princess Diana.
The garments displayed are a selection from the Zandra Rhodes Foundation archive which holds over 6000 garments. Established as a charity by Rhodes in 2020, the Foundation exists to preserve her legacy and open up her vast archive as a learning resource for current and future generations. Curator Rosemary Harden worked closely with Rhodes and Foundation Director Piers Atkinson, making repeated visits to Rhodes’ design studio where the Foundation’s archive is housed. Key pieces were chosen that illuminate Rhodes’ trailblazing approach to print, colour and form.
Adel Rootstein, the pioneering mannequin designer whose mannequins Rhodes’ garments dress, was a contemporary and important mentor to Rhodes. Rootstein modelled her lifelike mannequins on the cultural icons that defined the look and attitude of the day. Integral to this exhibition, the historic Rootstein mannequins bring a vivid sense of presence to Rhodes’ garments, embodying the glamour, energy and style of the 60s, 70s and 80s.
The mannequins’ wigs, designed by Linus Johansson, are inspired by Rhodes’ own dramatic hairstyles and those of stars Rhodes has dressed. The ensembles are styled with accessories from the Zandra Rhodes Foundation archive, including jewellery designed by artist and long-time collaborator of Rhodes, Andrew Logan.
Chris Stephens, Director of the Holburne said:
“We are so pleased that Zandra Rhodes is giving us the opportunity to show her designs at the Holburne. The exploration of her signature prints and the different ways in which she has put them to use speaks to our commitment to artistic creativity in its broadest sense. Bath, our building and gardens were built on individual style, showmanship and display and I cannot wait to see Zandra’s dresses in dialogue with the silks and embroidery in our portraits by Gainsborough and others.”
Dame Zandra Rhodes said: “Working with Rosemary Harden to put A Life in Print together has been incredibly inspiring. Together, we carefully selected key pieces from my historical collections where print dominates and defines the shape and flow of the garment. For me, print and garment design are intrinsically linked. It has been wonderful to reflect on the inspiration stories behind each of my signature prints, like my observational drawings of Australia’s rural landscape, and the memories carried by some of my most iconic garments, like the Button Flower coat worn by Joanna Lumley in Absolutely Fabulous! I hope visitors enjoy discovering the exhibition and listening to my audio tour as much as we enjoyed bringing it all together.”
Zandra Rhodes: A Life in Print captures Rhodes’ inimitable spirit, style and design identity, inspiring audiences through her fearless approach to colour, print, fashion and creativity.
An inclusive programme of associated events and workshops will run alongside the exhibition, including a partnership with Fashion Museum Bath and the launch of Fashion Is… Sketch Print Wear, a bi-annual KS4 design challenge celebrating Zandra Rhodes and with selected designs displayed across Bath in Spring 2026.
Zandra Rhodes will also appear live in-conversation at The Forum in Bath in March 2026.
Image Credit: Zandra Rhodes photographed by Simon Emmett