{"meta":{"version":"2.1","_links":{"self":{"href":"https://api.vam.ac.uk/v2/object/O17486"},"collection_page":{"href":"https://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O17486/"}},"images":{"_primary_thumbnail":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2006AV6228/full/!100,100/0/default.jpg","_iiif_image":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2006AV6228/","_alt_iiif_image":[],"imageResolution":"low","_images_meta":[{"assetRef":"2006AV6228","copyright":"©Victoria and Albert Museum, London/Elspeth Champcommunal for Worth London","sensitiveImage":false},{"assetRef":"2013GA6743","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false}]},"see_also":null},"record":{"systemNumber":"O17486","accessionNumber":"T.50-1942","objectType":"Coat","titles":[],"summaryDescription":"This coat is from the Utility Collection by the Incorporated Society of London Fashion Designers for the Board of Trade. The simplification and economy of material match the conditions laid down by the Board in relation to the manufacture of civilian clothing during the Second World War of 1939-1945. Then, both hand-crafted and mass-produced tailoring was as important as it is today. But, despite the best efforts of the fashion designers to be inventive without wasting precious fabric, there was a very limited choice. The Utility Scheme was introduced by the Board in 1941 to ensure that low- and medium-quality consumer goods were produced to the highest possible standards at 'reasonable' prices. These standards complied with restrictions and rationing of raw materials. The word 'Utility' was applied to garments made from Utility cloth, which was defined in terms of minimum weight and fibre content per yard. Utility clothes were usually identified by a distinctive double crescent CC41 (Civilian Clothing) label.\r\n\r\nWhen offering this coat to the Museum in August 1942, Sir Thomas Barlow explained that it conformed 'in simplification and economy of material to the conditions laid down by the Board of Trade in relation to the manufacture of civilian clothing'.","physicalDescription":"Mustard milled wool coat, partially lined with yellow rayon and fastens with a single button at the neck and a tie belt.","artistMakerPerson":[{"name":{"text":"Champcommunal, Elspeth","id":"A34585"},"association":{"text":"designer","id":"AAT25190"},"note":"probably"}],"artistMakerOrganisations":[{"name":{"text":"Worth London","id":"A14309"},"association":{"text":"designed for","id":"x41471"},"note":""},{"name":{"text":"Utility","id":"A2828"},"association":{"text":"designed for","id":"x41471"},"note":""},{"name":{"text":"Incorporated Society of London Fashion Designers","id":"AUTH383043"},"association":{"text":"producer (collection)","id":"x30781"},"note":""}],"artistMakerPeople":[],"materials":[{"text":"wool (textile)","id":"AAT243430"},{"text":"rayon","id":"AAT14059"}],"techniques":[{"text":"sewing","id":"AAT53658"}],"materialsAndTechniques":"Wool, partially lined with rayon","categories":[{"text":"Fashion","id":"THES48957"},{"text":"Clothing","id":"THES48975"},{"text":"Day wear","id":"THES49000"},{"text":"Womenswear","id":"THES49044"}],"styles":[],"collectionCode":{"text":"T&F","id":"THES48601"},"images":["2006AV6228","2013GA6743"],"imageResolution":"low","galleryLocations":[{"current":{"text":"010","id":"THES308100"},"free":"","case":"","shelf":"","box":""}],"partTypes":[[{"text":"Coat","id":""}]],"contentWarnings":[{"apprise":"","note":""}],"placesOfOrigin":[{"place":{"text":"London","id":"x28980"},"association":{"text":"made","id":"x28654"},"note":""}],"productionDates":[{"date":{"text":"autumn 1942","earliest":"1942-01-01","latest":"1942-12-31"},"association":{"text":"designed","id":"x29338"},"note":""}],"associatedObjects":[],"creditLine":"Given by the Board of Trade, through Sir Thomas Barlow, Director-General of Civilian Clothing","dimensions":[{"dimension":"Length","value":"116.2","unit":"cm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"back","note":"measurement converted from department register"},{"dimension":"Width","value":"43.2","unit":"cm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"across shoulders","note":"measurement converted from department register"}],"dimensionsNote":"","marksAndInscriptions":[],"objectHistory":"The Utility Collection, produced in 1942 by the incorporated Society of London Fashion Designers, was distinguished by its elegant simplicity. It complied with restrictions governing the number of buttons and the amount of material used. ","historicalContext":"","briefDescription":"Coat, 1942, English; Utility, probably designed by Elspeth Champcommunal for Worth. Mustard milled wool. Board of Trade pattern 27","bibliographicReferences":[],"production":"","productionType":{"text":"","id":""},"contentDescription":"","contentPlaces":[],"associatedPlaces":[],"contentPerson":[],"associatedPerson":[],"contentOrganisations":[],"associatedOrganisations":[],"contentPeople":[],"associatedPeople":[],"contentEvents":[],"associatedEvents":[],"contentOthers":[],"contentConcepts":[],"contentLiteraryRefs":[],"galleryLabels":[],"partNumbers":["T.50-1942"],"accessionNumberNum":"50","accessionNumberPrefix":"T","accessionYear":1942,"otherNumbers":[],"copyNumber":"","aspects":["WHOLE"],"assets":["2025PK9600"],"recordModificationDate":"2026-01-01","recordCreationDate":"1999-12-15","availableToBook":true}}