How to Sound Like a Curator: 12 Terms to Know Before Seeing “Manus x Machina” at the Met

The impact of technology on methods of production, rather than the sleek, futuristic aesthetic usually associated with things mechanical, is the focus of “Manus x Machina,” the much anticipated show opening at the Met in May. Our reliance on computers and smartphones has made most of us fairly fluent in tech talk—even if only to communicate with a help center. Less familiar is the terminology, much of it developed many, many moons ago, used in traditional fashion houses, which inspired the layout of “Manus x Machina.” The show is organized along the lines of a traditional (and hierarchical) couture house, with sections dedicated to tailoring and dressmaking as well as to the specialized métiers that work closely with the labels. Curator Andrew Bolton writes eloquently about all of these in detail in the catalog. In advance of its release, and in the interest of Met prep, we’ve put together a concise glossary, illustrated with images from the archive, that will have you sounding like a curator in no time.