A pop culture phenomenon and worldwide sensation, The Spice Girls now even have their own exhibition at the Leeds City Museum. Brought to us by Spice Girls super-fan and graduate of Glasgow School of Art Elizabeth West, the exhibition charts the rise and success of the fantastic fivesome through an impressive collection of memorabilia amassed over the years.
Ranging from Geri’s iconic union jack boots (right) to magazine covers from our friends over at Attitude Magazine the collection is truly impressive – though tragically missing Geri’s famous Union Jack dress (which sold for over £40,000 at a charity auction).
However, what really makes Spiceworld worth a visit are the interactive features such as speakers you pull a cord to make play your favourite track and a stage with a karaoke machine and costumes to dress up in if listening just isn’t enough for you.
Running 28th January – 3rd July there’s a only a few weeks left to go and visit Spiceworld The Exhibition, we heartily recommend a trip to this alternative collection for a slice of pop culture nostalgia and an insight into the still biggest selling female group of all time.
At TQS we were lucky enough to catch up with exhibition creator Liz West to ask her a few questions about her collection:
When did you first start collecting Spice Girls memorabilia?
I didn’t start collecting their merchandise immediately. It wasn’t until the release of their second album in 1997 that I started buying all the different versions of the singles.
Do you have the world’s largest collection?
Yes, I have the official Guinness World Record for the Largest Spice Girls Collection in the world.
How many pieces are in the collection?
Just over 4,000 individual items (spice girls and solo spice memorabilia).
What’s the most you paid for any one item?
Around £2,500 for a Geri worn dress.
Do you have a favourite piece?
Any of the 65 items of clothing or stage wear owned by the girls that i have are pretty special to me. I couldn’t decide between them.
How did the exhibition come about?
After graduating from the Glasgow School of Art in 2007 I had no money and couldn’t get a job, so decided to write to museums all around the UK proposing an exhibition of my collection which I would curate. Leeds City Museum took up my offer in 2009 after delivering the idea to the exhibitions panel. I had had two exhibitions previous to the Leeds show. One at Cusworth Hall, Doncaster and one at Clifton Park Museum both in 2008.
For more information on the collection & opening hours visit the Leeds Museum page here.
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