{"meta":{"version":"2.1","_links":{"self":{"href":"https://api.vam.ac.uk/v2/object/O1669036"},"collection_page":{"href":"https://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O1669036/"}},"images":{"_primary_thumbnail":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2022NF0978/full/!100,100/0/default.jpg","_iiif_image":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2022NF0978/","_alt_iiif_image":[],"imageResolution":"low","_images_meta":[{"assetRef":"2022NF0978","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false},{"assetRef":"2022NF0980","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false}]},"see_also":null},"record":{"systemNumber":"O1669036","accessionNumber":"T.112-2025","objectType":"Ensemble","titles":[{"title":"North Star","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\r\nThe North Star Suit, comprises a quilted top and skirt made from scraps of cotton recycled from previous collections. For her Autumn/Winter 2021 collection, Khumalo was inspired by Harriet Tubman and her role in the Underground Railroad in America, helping enslaved people get to safety. Many safe houses would hang quilts over their walls as a signal to those on the run that they were a place of safety.  The North Star was also important as a navigational tool as many enslaved people were forced to travel at night, without maps to guide them. The quilted design of the ensemble, with abstracted stars, makes reference to this history. Khumalo notes with this design she wanted to ‘pay homage to this notion of hope, freedom and security’","physicalDescription":"Mini skirt and short-sleveved button up shirt/jacket made from quilted cotton in dark blue, beige and orange. ","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"}],"techniques":[{"text":"quilting","id":"AAT53656"}],"materialsAndTechniques":"Quilted BCI cotton","categories":[{"text":"Fashion","id":"THES48957"},{"text":"Africa","id":"THES49019"},{"text":"Womenswear","id":"THES49044"}],"styles":[],"collectionCode":{"text":"T&F","id":"THES48601"},"images":["2022NF0978","2022NF0980"],"imageResolution":"low","galleryLocations":[{"current":{"text":"SHLN","id":"THES49063"},"free":"","case":"","shelf":"","box":""},{"current":{"text":"SHLN","id":"THES49063"},"free":"","case":"","shelf":"","box":""}],"partTypes":[[{"text":"Shirt","id":"AAT212499"}],[{"text":"Skirt","id":"AAT209932"}]],"contentWarnings":[{"apprise":"","note":""}],"placesOfOrigin":[{"place":{"text":"Cape Town","id":"x38584"},"association":{"text":"designed","id":"x29338"},"note":""}],"productionDates":[{"date":{"text":"2021","earliest":"2021-01-01","latest":"2021-12-31"},"association":{"text":"designed","id":"x29338"},"note":"Spring/Summer 2021, this version made in 2022"}],"associatedObjects":[],"creditLine":"Gift of Sindiso Khumalo","dimensions":[],"dimensionsNote":"","marksAndInscriptions":[],"objectHistory":"","historicalContext":"","briefDescription":"'North Star' skirt suit, quilted cotton, Sindiso Khumalo, cotton, Cape Town, South Africa, Autumn/Winter 2021","bibliographicReferences":[],"production":"","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 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 (T.2437-2021), 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.112:1-2025","T.112:2-2025"],"accessionNumberNum":"112","accessionNumberPrefix":"T","accessionYear":2025,"otherNumbers":[{"type":{"text":"Previous number","id":"THES51695"},"number":"T.72-2022"}],"copyNumber":"","aspects":["WHOLE"],"assets":[],"recordModificationDate":"2026-03-05","recordCreationDate":"2021-10-04","availableToBook":false}}