BERLIN.- The Kunstgewerbemuseum in Berlin has opened "Fashion from Paris – Donation Erika Hoffmann," an exhibition featuring 22 garments and accessories donated by Berlin art collector Erika Hoffmann. The exhibition, which opened on February 26, 2025, and runs until December 14, 2025, highlights Parisian fashion from the 1980s and 1990s.

The collection reflects Hoffmann's long-standing interest in Parisian fashion, a city that has served as a platform for designers since the 19th century. The exhibit focuses on the early 1980s, a period characterized by bold designs from Manfred "Thierry" Mugler, Jean Paul Gaultier, and Jean-Charles de Castelbajac. These designers are noted for creating garments that emphasized strong, confident silhouettes.

The Hoffmann donation includes a range of pieces, including early works by Thierry Mugler, such as a breastplate and pointed skirt from his Spring/Summer 1980 collection. The exhibition also features day dresses, jumpsuits, and evening wear acquired by Hoffmann during her regular visits to Parisian boutiques.

A notable piece in the collection is a beige-brown Mugler sheath dress worn by Erika Hoffmann during a meeting with Andy Warhol in New York. The exhibition includes photographic documentation of this meeting, highlighting the intersection of Hoffmann's interest in fashion and contemporary art.

A central piece of the exhibition is a paper vest by Maison Margiela, created in 1994. This vest exemplifies Martin Margiela's experimental design approach, blurring the lines between art and fashion.

The complete donation from Erika Hoffmann to the Kunstgewerbemuseum comprises 43 pieces. In addition to the displayed Parisian garments, the donation includes 21 garments based on 1920s Russian Constructivist designs, which are scheduled for a future exhibition.

The "Fashion from Paris – Donation Erika Hoffmann" exhibition is curated by Katrin Lindemann, Curator for Fashion and Textiles at the Kunstgewerbemuseum.