David Bowie in East London

Crafting David Bowie’s image was a collaborative and ever-evolving process. Many east London-born creative practitioners had an influence, including photographer Terry O'Neill, tailor and clothes designer Freddie Burretti, and couturier Alexander McQueen.

The David Bowie Archive, housed here at Storehouse on the second floor, documents these processes and invites us to consider how collaboration can enrich creativity.

Written by: David Bowie Archive cataloguing team

Published: April 2026

Collecting Stories

Museum Number
LOAN:AMERICASFOUNDATION.1532-2024
Description
Costume
Artist/Maker
Freddie Burretti
Location and Date
United Kingdom, Early 1970s
Materials/Techniques
Lame, Cotton, Machine sewing, Hand sewing
Object information
Museum Number
S.597-2024
Description
Jumper
Artist/Maker
Alexander McQueen
Location and Date
Italy, 2015
Materials/Techniques
Wool, Metal, Thread, Machine knitting, Machine sewing, Embroidery, Printing, Engraving
Object information
Museum Number
LOAN:AMERICASFOUNDATION.2152-2024
Description
Clutch
Artist/Maker
Terry O'Neill
Location and Date
China, 2010s
Materials/Techniques
Paper, Synthetic fabric, Printing ink, Metal, Cardboard, Plastic, Machine sewing, Printing
Object information