Evening dress by Zandra Rhodes, 1979 Donated by Zandra Rhodes, 1981

Throughout the 20th century fashion designers have been inspired by the cut, colours and patterns of world textiles and dress. This has been especially evident towards the end of the 20th century.

Multi-cultural societies, increased communications and travel opportunities have heightened our knowledge and appreciation of the dress worn by different cultures. Inevitably, this awareness has influenced fashion.

Some fashion designers freely mixed influences from different cultures in a single outfit. Others are inspired consistently by their own cultural clothing traditions.

Shirin Guild is a London-based fashion designer, who launched her own label in 1991. Her designs are inspired by oversize, square-shaped garments and flat cutting techniques, especially the men's wear from her native Iran. These are interpreted for women and made using the finest quality traditional British men's-wear fabrics and most innovative materials, including yarns made from paper, hemp, bamboo and steel encased within silk.