{"meta":{"version":"2.1","_links":{"self":{"href":"https://api.vam.ac.uk/v2/object/O1618765"},"collection_page":{"href":"https://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O1618765/"}},"images":{"_primary_thumbnail":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2021NA9304/full/!100,100/0/default.jpg","_iiif_image":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2021NA9304/","_alt_iiif_image":[],"imageResolution":"low","_images_meta":[{"assetRef":"2021NA9304","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false},{"assetRef":"2021NA9326","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false},{"assetRef":"2021NA9305","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false},{"assetRef":"2021NA9306","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false}]},"see_also":null},"record":{"systemNumber":"O1618765","accessionNumber":"T.2437:1,2-2021","objectType":"Dress","titles":[{"title":"Miss Celie","type":"assigned by artist"}],"summaryDescription":"Sindiso Khumalo founded her eponymous, ready-to-wear womenswear label in 2015 in Cape Town, South Africa. She studied architecture at the University of Cape town before completing an MA in Textile Futures at Central St Martins, London.  Khumalo’s work uses textiles techniques such as print and patchwork to explore stories from the past, centring on women’s empowerment. Through her collections Khumalo recognizes and celebrates powerful Black women in history, such as activist Charlotte Maxeke (1871-1939), Sarah Forbes Bonetta (1843-1880) (Yoruban princess and god-daughter of Queen Victoria) and American abolitionist Harriet Tubman (1822-1913).\r\n\nThe Miss Celie dress is one of Khumalo’s most recognisable designs. The name pays homage to the character in the 1982 novel The Color Purple by American author Alice Walker. The ruffle neckline and hem references early 1900s smocks and aprons. The dress and bonnet feature Khuamlo’s signature ‘Zulu Princess’ print, created by friend and illustrator Alex Fox. The print, designed in the style of a toile de jouy, depicts traditional Nguni life on a homestead and includes an illustration of Khumalo’s mother at her [Khumalo] wedding wearing a traditional Zulu headdress called an inkehli. \r\n","physicalDescription":"Dress, white cotton printed with blue toile du jouy pattern. Midi dress with short sleeves, ruffled yoke and deep hem.","artistMakerPerson":[{"name":{"text":"Khumalo, Sindiso","id":"AUTH361838"},"association":{"text":"designer","id":"x36960"},"note":""}],"artistMakerOrganisations":[{"name":{"text":"Sindiso Khumalo","id":"AUTH382315"},"association":{"text":"brand name","id":"x30588"},"note":""}],"artistMakerPeople":[],"materials":[{"text":"cotton (textile)","id":"AAT14067"},{"text":"cotton (textile)","id":"AAT14067"}],"techniques":[{"text":"printed","id":"x46159"}],"materialsAndTechniques":"Screen printed BCI cotton","categories":[{"text":"Fashion","id":"THES48957"},{"text":"Africa","id":"THES49019"},{"text":"Clothing","id":"THES48975"}],"styles":[],"collectionCode":{"text":"T&F","id":"THES48601"},"images":["2021NA9304","2021NA9326","2021NA9305","2021NA9306"],"imageResolution":"low","galleryLocations":[{"current":{"text":"SHLN","id":"THES49063"},"free":"","case":"","shelf":"","box":""},{"current":{"text":"SHLN","id":"THES49063"},"free":"","case":"","shelf":"","box":""}],"partTypes":[[{"text":"Dress","id":"x47499"}],[{"text":"bonnets (hats)","id":"AAT210720"}]],"contentWarnings":[{"apprise":"","note":""}],"placesOfOrigin":[{"place":{"text":"South Africa","id":"x30058"},"association":{"text":"designed","id":"x29338"},"note":""}],"productionDates":[{"date":{"text":"2020","earliest":"2020-01-01","latest":"2020-12-31"},"association":{"text":"designed","id":"x29338"},"note":"Spring/Summer collection, made in 2021 for V&A"}],"associatedObjects":[],"creditLine":"Purchased with funds from the Sue Smith bequest","dimensions":[{"dimension":"Length","value":"1200","unit":"mm","qualifier":"Maximum","date":{"text":"04/08/2021","earliest":"2021-08-04","latest":"2021-08-04"},"part":"Dress - collar to hem","note":""},{"dimension":"Circumference","value":"780","unit":"mm","qualifier":"Maximum","date":{"text":"04/08/2021","earliest":"2021-08-04","latest":"2021-08-04"},"part":"Dress - waist","note":""},{"dimension":"Circumference","value":"960","unit":"mm","qualifier":"Maximum","date":{"text":"04/08/2021","earliest":"2021-08-04","latest":"2021-08-04"},"part":"Dress - bust","note":""},{"dimension":"Length","value":"750","unit":"mm","qualifier":"Maximum","date":{"text":"04/08/2021","earliest":"2021-08-04","latest":"2021-08-04"},"part":"Dress - length of skirt","note":""},{"dimension":"Length","value":"245","unit":"mm","qualifier":"Maximum","date":{"text":"04/08/2021","earliest":"2021-08-04","latest":"2021-08-04"},"part":"Dress - sleeve","note":""},{"dimension":"Height","value":"170","unit":"mm","qualifier":"Approx.","date":{"text":"04/08/2021","earliest":"2021-08-04","latest":"2021-08-04"},"part":"Bonnet - mounted, excluding straps","note":""},{"dimension":"Depth","value":"260","unit":"mm","qualifier":"Maximum","date":{"text":"04/08/2021","earliest":"2021-08-04","latest":"2021-08-04"},"part":"Bonnet - mounted","note":""},{"dimension":"Width","value":"160","unit":"mm","qualifier":"Maximum","date":{"text":"04/08/2021","earliest":"2021-08-04","latest":"2021-08-04"},"part":"Bonnet - mounted","note":""}],"dimensionsNote":"Measured by conservation","marksAndInscriptions":[],"objectHistory":"","historicalContext":"","briefDescription":"Dress and bonnet, 'Miss Celie', white cotton with printed blue toile du jouy pattern, designed by Sindiso Khumalo, Cape Town, South Africa, Spring/Summer 2020","bibliographicReferences":[],"production":"'Zulu Princess' print, illustration by Alex Fox","productionType":{"text":"Ready to wear","id":"THES48866"},"contentDescription":"","contentPlaces":[],"associatedPlaces":[],"contentPerson":[],"associatedPerson":[],"contentOrganisations":[],"associatedOrganisations":[],"contentPeople":[],"associatedPeople":[],"contentEvents":[],"associatedEvents":[],"contentOthers":[],"contentConcepts":[],"contentLiteraryRefs":[],"galleryLabels":[{"text":"Khumalo’s designs celebrate Black women. The quilted ‘North Star’ suit (T.72:1, 2-2022) was inspired by African American abolitionist Harriet Tubman (1822–1913) and her role in the Underground Railroad, helping enslaved people make a break for freedom. Safe houses hung quilts outside as a signal that they were a place of refuge. The ‘Zulu Princess’ print on the ‘Miss Celie’ dress is a more personal reflection. The print shows Khumalo’s mother wearing an <i>Inkehli</i>, a traditional Zulu headdress, on her daughter’s wedding day. 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.2437:1-2021","T.2437:2-2021"],"accessionNumberNum":"2437","accessionNumberPrefix":"T","accessionYear":2021,"otherNumbers":[],"copyNumber":"","aspects":["WHOLE"],"assets":[],"recordModificationDate":"2026-03-05","recordCreationDate":"2021-05-12","availableToBook":false}}