One Of A Kind: Fashion Archivist Gregory Chester Documents Obscure Style Relics & Art
By Something CuratedCurated by Gregory Chester, @oneofa___kind is a veritable compendium of daydreams and fashion history. Having accumulated around 1400 images, comprising photographic works, art, magazine editorials and archival garments, the account functions as a valuable research resource as well as simply a joy to peruse.
Chester works as a fashion archivist, researching rare garments at his place of work, the One of a Kind fashion archive on London’s Portobello Road. One of a Kind’s West London HQ is packed with over 5000 fashion relics. Since opening its doors 24 years ago, it’s provided inspiration for many of today’s eminent designers and contributed to fashion exhibitions at institutions from the Barbican Centre, to the Metropolitan Museum of Art.
One of a Kind’s team of in-house archivists are available to source looks for events, films, magazine editorials or simply for a client’s personal wardrobe. Chester’s Instagram feed, which started as a means to share One of a Kind’s rare wears, has grown into a prolific source of fashion moments that sit alongside furniture, paintings and sculptures, film stills and more.
From striking portraits by photographers Kotori Kawashima and Katherine Wolkoff, and jewellery by designer Charles Jourdan from the 70s, to obscure prints by Tetsurō Tamba and captures of Swiss choreographer Gilles Jobin’s performances, the account is an unending trove of remarkable ideas.
Feature image: Olaf Breuning, 2005 (via @oneofa___kind)