{"meta":{"version":"2.1","_links":{"self":{"href":"https://api.vam.ac.uk/v2/object/O301482"},"collection_page":{"href":"https://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O301482/"}},"images":{"_primary_thumbnail":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2014HD8222/full/!100,100/0/default.jpg","_iiif_image":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2014HD8222/","_alt_iiif_image":[],"imageResolution":"low","_images_meta":[{"assetRef":"2014HD8222","copyright":"©Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false},{"assetRef":"2014HD8220","copyright":"©Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false}]},"see_also":null},"record":{"systemNumber":"O301482","accessionNumber":"T.571-1997","objectType":"T-shirt","titles":[],"summaryDescription":"Following the identification of AIDS in the 1980s, health agencies around the world began pursuing information campaigns to actively educate about the risks of sexually transmitted infections and how to reduce the risk. One of the most effective ways of doing so was to use a condom, and many different campaigns around the world simultaneously developed similar superhero characters called \"Captain Condom.\" These various Captain Condoms, which ranged from realistic humanoids, to stylized cartoon characters, all had a common message of encouraging people to perform safe sex. It is unclear which organisation this shirt was created by, but it uses British English spelling. In this design, Captain Condom is an anthromorphised condom wearing a version of the classic Superman blue-and-red outfit with a pink C on the chest replacing Superman's S.\n\nThis shirt was part of a large collection of T-shirts collected by Richard L. Velleman who died in either 1994 or 1995, which included several shirts with LGBTQ+ and safe-sex themes, including rare London Pride shirts from 1985, alongside band shirts from Velleman's favourite rock and punk bands, others depicting skateboarding, surfing, and partying; and random amusing or funny shirts.\n\nWe do not know who Richard Velleman was or anything about him beyond that he collected and wore these shirts, many of which show clear signs of having formed part of an actively and enthusiastically worn wardrobe; and that the collection of shirts was donated to us in his memory. The choice of T-shirts is often deeply personal and subject to the wearer's individual taste, acting as a wearable billboard for their beliefs, tastes and other opinions.","physicalDescription":"Pale pink cotton T-shirt printed with 'Captain Condom'.","artistMakerPerson":[{"name":{"text":"Unknown","id":"A1848"},"association":{"text":"","id":""},"note":""}],"artistMakerOrganisations":[{"name":{"text":"Splitz","id":"AUTH407718"},"association":{"text":"manufacturers","id":"AAT25230"},"note":""}],"artistMakerPeople":[],"materials":[{"text":"cotton","id":"AAT14067"}],"techniques":[{"text":"printing","id":"AAT53319"}],"materialsAndTechniques":"Printed cotton","categories":[{"text":"Clothing","id":"THES48975"},{"text":"Textiles","id":"THES48885"},{"text":"Fashion","id":"THES48957"}],"styles":[],"collectionCode":{"text":"T&F","id":"THES48601"},"images":["2014HD8222","2014HD8220"],"imageResolution":"low","galleryLocations":[{"current":{"text":"011","id":"THES306413"},"free":"","case":"","shelf":"","box":""}],"partTypes":[[{"text":"T-shirt","id":""}]],"contentWarnings":[{"apprise":"","note":""}],"placesOfOrigin":[{"place":{"text":"Great Britain","id":"x32019"},"association":{"text":"made","id":"x28654"},"note":""}],"productionDates":[{"date":{"text":"c.1990","earliest":"1985-01-01","latest":"1994-12-31"},"association":{"text":"made","id":"x28654"},"note":""}],"associatedObjects":[],"creditLine":"Donated by Andrew Shanahan in memory of Richard L. Velleman","dimensions":[{"dimension":"Length","value":"654","unit":"mm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"centre back nape to hem","note":""},{"dimension":"Width","value":"550","unit":"mm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"pit to pit","note":""},{"dimension":"Weight","value":"0.2","unit":"kg","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"","note":""}],"dimensionsNote":"","marksAndInscriptions":[{"content":"IS IT A BIRD, IS IT A PLANE NO IT'S CAPTAIN CONDOM, YOUR FAVOURITE HOODED CRUSADER, FIGHTER OF EVIL","inscriber":{"name":{"text":"","id":""},"association":{"text":"","id":""}},"date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"description":"","interpretation":"","language":"","medium":"","method":"","position":"","script":"","translation":"","transliteration":"","type":"","note":"printed"}],"objectHistory":"During the late 1980s and 1990s, as part of the safe sex campaigns, many different interpretations of a superhero character called Captain Condom, ranging from realistic humanoids to stylized cartoon characters, were created around the world. They were intended to promote safe sex as protection against AIDS and other sexually transmitted diseases. The spelling of \"Favourite\" on this shirt indicates it is probably British, and the character is dressed in a version of Superman's blue and red outfit with a pink C replacing Superman's red S.","historicalContext":"","briefDescription":"Printed cotton T-shirt promoting safe sex with cartoon of Captain Condom. Splitz, Great Britain, c.1990","bibliographicReferences":[],"production":"Splitz","productionType":{"text":"","id":""},"contentDescription":"","contentPlaces":[],"associatedPlaces":[],"contentPerson":[],"associatedPerson":[],"contentOrganisations":[],"associatedOrganisations":[],"contentPeople":[],"associatedPeople":[],"contentEvents":[],"associatedEvents":[],"contentOthers":[{"text":"safe sex","id":"THES266898"}],"contentConcepts":[],"contentLiteraryRefs":[],"galleryLabels":[],"partNumbers":["T.571-1997"],"accessionNumberNum":"571","accessionNumberPrefix":"T","accessionYear":1997,"otherNumbers":[],"copyNumber":"","aspects":["WHOLE"],"assets":[],"recordModificationDate":"2026-01-01","recordCreationDate":"2009-06-24","availableToBook":true}}