{"meta":{"version":"2.1","_links":{"self":{"href":"https://api.vam.ac.uk/v2/object/O1681646"},"collection_page":{"href":"https://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O1681646/"}},"images":null,"see_also":null},"record":{"systemNumber":"O1681646","accessionNumber":"T.26-2022","objectType":"Ensemble","titles":[],"summaryDescription":"Lagos-born and based designer Kenneth Ize is known for his innovative use in contemporary fashion design of aṣọ-òkè. Made by the Yoruba, aṣọ-òkè is a hand-woven cloth said to originate from the city of Ibadan in the 15th century. Traditionally made from cotton, dyed in various colours and designs, it is a very prestigious cloth and often worn for special occasions.  Ize works with a community of 10-15 weavers at his factory in Ilorin to create aṣọ-òkè for his collections.  It takes around 24 hours over the course of a week to weave enough aṣọ-òkè for a jacket.  \n\nThe Spring/Summer 2021 collection was created during the coronavirus pandemic and various lockdowns while Ize was often working from home in Lagos; much of the design process for the collection was done over WhatsApp with the weavers in Ilorin.\n\nThe collection was also a pointed critique of Nigeria’s stance on LGBTQ+ rights, where, at the time of writing in 2022,  homosexuality is still punishable with a 14-year prison sentence. Speaking with i-D magazine, Ize remarked: ‘I'm a gay man, and I'm a gay Black designer. Living in Nigeria for the past five years, I feel like I hid this side of myself’.  For the collection’s launch in Paris at the Palais de Tokyo, Ize commissioned Maty Biayenda, a Black trans painter, to create a mural during the presentation. \n\r\nThe womenswear ensemble acquired by the V&amp;A is one of the 13 looks created for the collection. It is made from multi-coloured aṣọ-òkè and the dress, designed to be worn over trousers, has a deep fringed hem which is often found in Ize’s collections.\r\n","physicalDescription":"Sleeveless top with deep fringe from hip to knee. Made from mulitcoloured hand-woven aso oke, woven in stripes. \r\n\r\nTrousers in multicoloured striped hand-woven aso oke, high-rise with straight leg.","artistMakerPerson":[{"name":{"text":"Ize, Kenneth","id":"AUTH376988"},"association":{"text":"designer","id":"x36960"},"note":""}],"artistMakerOrganisations":[{"name":{"text":"Kenneth Ize","id":"AUTH376905"},"association":{"text":"brand","id":"x30588"},"note":""}],"artistMakerPeople":[],"materials":[{"text":"rayon","id":"x35260"},{"text":"cotton (textile)","id":"AAT14067"},{"text":"","id":""},{"text":"aso oke","id":"THES379955"}],"techniques":[{"text":"weaving","id":"AAT53642"}],"materialsAndTechniques":"hand-woven aso oke","categories":[{"text":"Fashion","id":"THES48957"},{"text":"Womenswear","id":"THES49044"},{"text":"Africa","id":"THES49019"}],"styles":[],"collectionCode":{"text":"T&F","id":"THES48601"},"images":[],"imageResolution":"low","galleryLocations":[{"current":{"text":"SHLN","id":"THES49063"},"free":"","case":"","shelf":"","box":""},{"current":{"text":"SHLN","id":"THES49063"},"free":"","case":"","shelf":"","box":""}],"partTypes":[[{"text":"Top","id":"AAT121968"}],[{"text":"Trousers","id":"AAT209935"}]],"contentWarnings":[{"apprise":"","note":""}],"placesOfOrigin":[{"place":{"text":"Lagos","id":"x40167"},"association":{"text":"designed","id":"x29338"},"note":""},{"place":{"text":"Ilorin","id":"THES359571"},"association":{"text":"woven","id":"AAT53643"},"note":""}],"productionDates":[{"date":{"text":"2021","earliest":"2021-01-01","latest":"2021-12-31"},"association":{"text":"designed","id":"x29338"},"note":"Spring/Summer"}],"associatedObjects":[],"creditLine":"","dimensions":[],"dimensionsNote":"","marksAndInscriptions":[],"objectHistory":"","historicalContext":"","briefDescription":"Ensemble, top and trousers, multi-coloured striped aso oke, designed by Kenneth Ize, Lagos, Nigeria, Spring/Summer 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":"Turned into fringed tunic dresses and tailored ensembles, <i>aṣọ-òkè</i>, a handwoven cloth historically produced by the Yoruba, is a staple of Ize’s work. For him,<i> aṣọ-òkè</i> is more than a fabric, it is a national resource and part of Nigeria’s cultural heritage which deserves celebration. 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.26:1-2022","T.26:2-2022"],"accessionNumberNum":"26","accessionNumberPrefix":"T","accessionYear":2022,"otherNumbers":[],"copyNumber":"","aspects":["WHOLE"],"assets":[],"recordModificationDate":"2025-04-16","recordCreationDate":"2022-01-11","availableToBook":false}}