BETHLEHEM, Pa. — It wasn't the people who were best dressed at the gala.
It was stone-faced mannequins instead.
- "An Uncommon Thread: Fashion as Fine Art," runs through Aug. 20 at ArtsQuest's Banana Factory
- The show features haute couture designs by Bethlehem designer Barbara Kavchok
- Kavchok's exhibit explores how artificial intelligence is changing the way we live
Locals wore their finest evening wear to ArtsQuest's first People's Ball, a soiree that featured a new exhibit, "An Uncommon Thread: Fashion as Fine Art."
'Fashion is fine art'
Attendees of the gala Saturday, May 6, at ArtsQuest's Banana Factory, got a sneak peek of the the show that runs through Aug. 20 and houses 13 couture gowns by local fashion designer Barbara Kavchok.
Kavchok, who owns a studio on West Broad Street in Bethlehem, specializes in hand-crafted and sustainable bridal wear.
I believe fashion is fine art. It shouldn’t be disposable or mass-produced by machines in factories.
Bethlehem fashion designer Barbara Kavchok
Her motto is simple: Fashion is fine art.
"Fashion shouldn’t be disposable or mass-produced by machines in factories," she said. "It should be cared for, paid attention to, and honored in a way that authentically represents the person wearing it."
Kavchok studied at fine arts at the University of the Arts in Philadelphia and later took over as chief designer for her mother's brand, Eugenie Couture, before launching her own collection in 2016.
How Al is impacting design
The new exhibit explores how artificial intelligence is changing the way we live.
"As innovations in technology and Al are developing and bringing us wonderful possibilities, they simultaneously threaten our privacy, our environment, and our very humanity," Kavchok said.
"This collection explores the positives and negatives related to this progress."
Each of the couture garments, which are accompanied by sketches drawn by the designer, tells a story of man versus machine.
For instance, the dramatic flair and floral, multi-colored embellishments on "Black Dalia" are meant to reflect the dark side of human nature and how it can often "cut through the natural world."
Meanwhile, Kavchok's "Eve 2.0" is woven with heavy crystal beading and designed to look like a female robot made by man to be "intelligent through modern advances to AI."
"The red lining and red crystals on the bodice and dripping to the floor show that humanity can’t help but bleed through even the most sophisticated technology," Kavchok said.
"An Uncommon Thread: Fashion as Fine Art," runs through Aug. 20 at 25 W. 3rd Street.