{"meta":{"version":"2.1","_links":{"self":{"href":"https://api.vam.ac.uk/v2/object/O1616494"},"collection_page":{"href":"https://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O1616494/"}},"images":{"_primary_thumbnail":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2022ND4519/full/!100,100/0/default.jpg","_iiif_image":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2022ND4519/","_alt_iiif_image":[],"imageResolution":"low","_images_meta":[{"assetRef":"2022ND4519","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false},{"assetRef":"2022ND4521","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false},{"assetRef":"2022ND4520","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false}]},"see_also":null},"record":{"systemNumber":"O1616494","accessionNumber":"T.5-2020","objectType":"Dress","titles":[{"title":"'Princess Kaftan'","type":"assigned by artist"}],"summaryDescription":"Victoria Folashade ‘Shade’ Thomas-Fahm was born in Nigeria in 1933. In 1953 she travelled to Britain with a view to training as a nurse under the sponsorship of the British Council but her interest in fashion led her to instead take an evening class to gain her National Diploma and subsequently enroll at Saint Martin’s School of Art to study fashion. Thomas-Fahm returned to Lagos, Nigeria in 1960 and established her own boutique at the Federal Palace Hotel, Maison Shade (later known as Shade’s Boutique). She also opened a factory on the Yaba Industrial Estate to produce her contemporary reimagining of local Nigerian garments and textile techniques. Championing Nigerian fabrics and silhouettes, Thomas-Fahm designed for the cosmopolitan, working woman. Her boutique swiftly became the go-to place for people of style in Lagos and she counted diplomats and royalty amongst her regular clientele. ","physicalDescription":"The kaftan is open at the centre front with a wide open neckline and short, flared sleeves that feature slit openings from shoulder to cuff. The kaftan is full-length and tailored to the shape of the body. The plain woven cotton is heavily embroidered at the hem, cuffs and neckline with corresponding motifs embrodiered down the length of the garment front and back. ","artistMakerPerson":[{"name":{"text":"Shade Thomas-Fahm","id":"AUTH361825"},"association":{"text":"","id":""},"note":""}],"artistMakerOrganisations":[],"artistMakerPeople":[],"materials":[{"text":"cotton (textile)","id":"AAT14067"}],"techniques":[],"materialsAndTechniques":"Embroidered of aṣọ-òkè fu cotton.","categories":[{"text":"Womenswear","id":"THES49044"},{"text":"Fashion","id":"THES48957"},{"text":"Africa","id":"THES49019"}],"styles":[],"collectionCode":{"text":"T&F","id":"THES48601"},"images":["2022ND4519","2022ND4521","2022ND4520"],"imageResolution":"low","galleryLocations":[{"current":{"text":"SHLN","id":"THES49063"},"free":"","case":"","shelf":"","box":""}],"partTypes":[[{"text":"Dress","id":"x47499"}],[{"text":"Robe","id":"AAT209852"}]],"contentWarnings":[{"apprise":"","note":""}],"placesOfOrigin":[{"place":{"text":"nigeria","id":"x30055"},"association":{"text":"","id":""},"note":""}],"productionDates":[{"date":{"text":"1970s","earliest":"1970-01-01","latest":"1979-12-31"},"association":{"text":"","id":""},"note":""}],"associatedObjects":[],"creditLine":"Given by Shade Thomas-Fahm","dimensions":[{"dimension":"Length","value":"114","unit":"cm","qualifier":"Maximum","date":{"text":"24/09/2021","earliest":"2021-09-24","latest":"2021-09-24"},"part":"Shoulder to hem","note":""},{"dimension":"Circumference","value":"90","unit":"cm","qualifier":"Approx.","date":{"text":"24/09/2021","earliest":"2021-09-24","latest":"2021-09-24"},"part":"Waist","note":""},{"dimension":"Circumference","value":"102","unit":"cm","qualifier":"Approx.","date":{"text":"24/09/2021","earliest":"2021-09-24","latest":"2021-09-24"},"part":"Bust","note":""}],"dimensionsNote":"Measured by conservation","marksAndInscriptions":[],"objectHistory":"","historicalContext":"","briefDescription":"'Princess Kaftan' of aṣọ-òkè fu, cotton, Shade Thomas-Fahm, Nigeria, 1970s","bibliographicReferences":[],"production":"","productionType":{"text":"","id":""},"contentDescription":"","contentPlaces":[],"associatedPlaces":[],"contentPerson":[],"associatedPerson":[],"contentOrganisations":[],"associatedOrganisations":[],"contentPeople":[],"associatedPeople":[],"contentEvents":[],"associatedEvents":[],"contentOthers":[],"contentConcepts":[],"contentLiteraryRefs":[],"galleryLabels":[{"text":"Alongside her bespoke, made-to-measure pieces, Thomas-Fahm had several popular ready-to-wear lines stocked both at her boutiques and by other retailers, including Kingsway Stores in Lagos. She regularly travelled abroad to attract international buyers, including in December 1972, when she went to New York and held a series of promotional Christmas events. V&amp;A, Room 40, <i>Africa Fashion</i> ","date":{"text":"02/07/2022 - 16/04/2023","earliest":"2022-07-02","latest":"2023-04-16"}}],"partNumbers":["T.5-2022"],"accessionNumberNum":"5","accessionNumberPrefix":"T","accessionYear":2022,"otherNumbers":[],"copyNumber":"","aspects":["WHOLE"],"assets":[],"recordModificationDate":"2025-05-01","recordCreationDate":"2021-05-09","availableToBook":false}}