{"meta":{"version":"2.1","_links":{"self":{"href":"https://api.vam.ac.uk/v2/object/O1733385"},"collection_page":{"href":"https://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O1733385/"}},"images":{"_primary_thumbnail":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2023NJ5792/full/!100,100/0/default.jpg","_iiif_image":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2023NJ5792/","_alt_iiif_image":[],"imageResolution":"high","_images_meta":[{"assetRef":"2023NJ5792","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false},{"assetRef":"2023NJ5793","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false},{"assetRef":"2023NJ5794","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false},{"assetRef":"2023NJ5795","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false},{"assetRef":"2023NJ5796","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false}]},"see_also":{"_iiif_pres":"https://iiif.vam.ac.uk/collections/O1733385/manifest.json","_alt_iiif_pres":[]}},"record":{"systemNumber":"O1733385","accessionNumber":"T.7-2023","objectType":"Dress","titles":[{"title":"Oku","type":"assigned by artist"}],"summaryDescription":"Womenswear label Fruché is based in Lagos and was founded by Frank Aghuno in 2014. The name Fruché is a combination of Frank’s English name and one of his Igbo names, <i>Uche</i>. Aghuno was not formally trained in fashion and established the brand while studying Finance at the University of Lagos. The brand regulalry shows at the popular Lagos Fashion Week . \r\n\r\nThrough his work, Aghuno wants to challenge misconceptions in Nigerian culture about feminism which he argues is often seen as a negative European influence, but was in fact prominent in precolonial Nigeria. His work is also shaped by the influence of his mother, whom he describes as a ‘vocal feminist’. \r\n\nThe ’Fire’ dress was created as part of Fruché’s Spring/Summer 2020 collection titled<i> Free Spirits II</i> and was inspired by the Agbogho Mmuo (Maiden Spirits) - performances which are held annually in the northern part of Igbo’s traditional territory in Nigeria. Acted out by men, these performances showcase an ideal image of the Igbo maiden.\r\n\r\nFeathers are a staple part of the collection, and are used by Aghuno to reference the bird of creation, a prominent motif in his work. This form-fitting turtleneck dress is made from black lace embellished with black beads, supplanted with  red, orange and yellow dyed ostrich features to create a flame effect. To manage costs Anghuno produces his collections in small batches, with the designs made up once an order has been received.\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n","physicalDescription":"Body-con high-neck black lace dress with long sleeves, and hem just below the knees. The dress is embellished with ostrich feathers dyed red, orange and yellow which are applied down the front of the dress to give a flame effect.","artistMakerPerson":[{"name":{"text":"Aghuno, Frank","id":"AUTH386842"},"association":{"text":"designer","id":"x36960"},"note":""}],"artistMakerOrganisations":[{"name":{"text":"Fruché","id":"AUTH385682"},"association":{"text":"brand","id":"x30588"},"note":""}],"artistMakerPeople":[],"materials":[{"text":"lace","id":"AAT132861"},{"text":"ostrich feather","id":"x33308"}],"techniques":[{"text":"lace","id":"AAT53651"}],"materialsAndTechniques":"Lace, ostrich feathers","categories":[{"text":"Fashion","id":"THES48957"},{"text":"Africa","id":"THES49019"},{"text":"Textiles","id":"THES48885"},{"text":"Lace","id":"THES48926"}],"styles":[],"collectionCode":{"text":"T&F","id":"THES48601"},"images":["2023NJ5792","2023NJ5793","2023NJ5794","2023NJ5795","2023NJ5796"],"imageResolution":"high","galleryLocations":[{"current":{"text":"EXH3","id":"THES265486"},"free":"","case":"","shelf":"TOP SHELF, RACKING","box":""}],"partTypes":[[{"text":"Dress","id":"x47499"}]],"contentWarnings":[{"apprise":"","note":""}],"placesOfOrigin":[{"place":{"text":"Lagos","id":"x40167"},"association":{"text":"designed and made","id":"x39722"},"note":""}],"productionDates":[{"date":{"text":"2020","earliest":"2020-01-01","latest":"2020-12-31"},"association":{"text":"designed","id":"x29338"},"note":"Spring/Summer 2020 collection, It was deputed for the first time at Lagos Fashion Week on the 26th of October 2019. This version was made for the V&A in 2022, it was still on sale as a design"}],"associatedObjects":[],"creditLine":"","dimensions":[],"dimensionsNote":"","marksAndInscriptions":[],"objectHistory":"This dress was used as a key image for the V&amp;A Africa Fashion exhibition marketing campaign. In 2021 the V&amp;A commissioned Lakin Ogunbanwo to create a film for Africa Fashion to be played in the ceiling vaults of Gallery 40. Stylist Nathan Klein was appointed to dress the dancers using clothes by designers with work in the exhibition. Alongside this, Klein approached Fruché to provide some outfits for the shoot. The ‘Oku’ dress, and the dancer wearing it, Salome Gomes-Trezise, became a prominent part of the film and the eventual marketing campaign stills.","historicalContext":"","briefDescription":"'Oku' dress, black lace and red/orange/yellow ostrich feathers, Frank Aghuno for Fruché, Lagos, Nigeria, Spring/Summer 2020","bibliographicReferences":[],"production":"ready-to-wear design, sold through various platforms, produced in small batches once order is submitted","productionType":{"text":"Ready to wear","id":"THES48866"},"contentDescription":"","contentPlaces":[],"associatedPlaces":[],"contentPerson":[],"associatedPerson":[],"contentOrganisations":[],"associatedOrganisations":[],"contentPeople":[],"associatedPeople":[],"contentEvents":[],"associatedEvents":[],"contentOthers":[],"contentConcepts":[],"contentLiteraryRefs":[],"galleryLabels":[],"partNumbers":["T.7-2023"],"accessionNumberNum":"7","accessionNumberPrefix":"T","accessionYear":2023,"otherNumbers":[],"copyNumber":"","aspects":["WHOLE"],"assets":[],"recordModificationDate":"2025-04-19","recordCreationDate":"2022-10-31","availableToBook":false}}