{"meta":{"version":"2.1","_links":{"self":{"href":"https://api.vam.ac.uk/v2/object/O49430"},"collection_page":{"href":"https://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O49430/"}},"images":{"_primary_thumbnail":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2021MW3872/full/!100,100/0/default.jpg","_iiif_image":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2021MW3872/","_alt_iiif_image":[],"imageResolution":"low","_images_meta":[{"assetRef":"2021MW3872","copyright":"©Victoria & Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false},{"assetRef":"2021MW3873","copyright":"©Victoria & Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false},{"assetRef":"2021MW3874","copyright":"©Victoria & Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false}]},"see_also":null},"record":{"systemNumber":"O49430","accessionNumber":"T.239:4-1999","objectType":"Suit","titles":[],"summaryDescription":"In the 1980s, Willie Brown designed under his 'Modern Classics' label, which he sold in his own shop on Rivington Street, Shoreditch, London. Brown was an influential independent designer and retailer who dressed celebrities including Spandau Ballet and David Bowie. Brown's early 1980s style combined utilitarian style with sharp tailoring, often referencing 1920s Russian Constructivism. \r\n\r\nSince the 1990s, Brown and business partner Marie Willey have operated under the label ‘Old Town’, based in Holt, Norfolk. ","physicalDescription":"Rust brown cotton suit consisting of a jacket, trousers and grey cotton shirt.","artistMakerPerson":[{"name":{"text":"William Brown","id":"AUTH354153"},"association":{"text":"","id":""},"note":""}],"artistMakerOrganisations":[{"name":{"text":"Modern Classics","id":"A4773"},"association":{"text":"designer","id":"AAT25190"},"note":"Willie Brown was the designer for Modern Classics"}],"artistMakerPeople":[],"materials":[{"text":"cotton","id":"AAT14067"}],"techniques":[{"text":"machine sewing","id":"AAT257463"}],"materialsAndTechniques":"machine-stitched cotton","categories":[{"text":"Clothing","id":"THES48975"},{"text":"Men's clothes","id":"THES49043"},{"text":"Fashion","id":"THES48957"}],"styles":[],"collectionCode":{"text":"T&F","id":"THES48601"},"images":["2021MW3872","2021MW3873","2021MW3874"],"imageResolution":"low","galleryLocations":[{"current":{"text":"010","id":"THES307845"},"free":"","case":"","shelf":"","box":""},{"current":{"text":"010","id":"THES307845"},"free":"","case":"","shelf":"","box":""},{"current":{"text":"010","id":"THES307845"},"free":"","case":"","shelf":"","box":""},{"current":{"text":"010","id":"THES307845"},"free":"","case":"","shelf":"","box":""}],"partTypes":[[{"text":"Belt","id":""}],[{"text":"Shirt","id":""}],[{"text":"Trousers","id":""}],[{"text":"Jacket","id":""}]],"contentWarnings":[{"apprise":"","note":""},{"apprise":"","note":""},{"apprise":"","note":""},{"apprise":"","note":""},{"apprise":"","note":""}],"placesOfOrigin":[{"place":{"text":"England","id":"x28826"},"association":{"text":"made","id":"x28654"},"note":""}],"productionDates":[{"date":{"text":"1980","earliest":"1980-01-01","latest":"1980-12-31"},"association":{"text":"designed","id":"x29338"},"note":""}],"associatedObjects":[],"creditLine":"Given by Tim Guilbride","dimensions":[],"dimensionsNote":"","marksAndInscriptions":[{"content":"\"Modern Classics\"","inscriber":{"name":{"text":"","id":""},"association":{"text":"","id":""}},"date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"description":"","interpretation":"","language":"English","medium":"silk","method":"machine embroidery","position":"back of neck","script":"","translation":"","transliteration":"","type":"1) Makers's mark","note":"1) Makers's mark; English; back of neck; machine embroidery; silk"}],"objectHistory":"Historical significance: Not the typical British country style outfit but clearly inspired by traditional Austrian / German country style clothes.  Mix of ethnic influences and loose unfit shapes typical of the early 1980s.  The trousers are interesting as they are cut on the model of 1790s boy's front flapped breeches.","historicalContext":"","briefDescription":"Man's cotton suit, Modern Classics by Willie Brown, British, 1980","bibliographicReferences":[],"production":"","productionType":{"text":"Ready to wear","id":"THES48866"},"contentDescription":"","contentPlaces":[],"associatedPlaces":[],"contentPerson":[],"associatedPerson":[],"contentOrganisations":[],"associatedOrganisations":[],"contentPeople":[],"associatedPeople":[],"contentEvents":[],"associatedEvents":[],"contentOthers":[],"contentConcepts":[],"contentLiteraryRefs":[],"galleryLabels":[],"partNumbers":["T.239:4-1999","T.239:3-1999","T.239:2-1999","T.239:1-1999"],"accessionNumberNum":"239","accessionNumberPrefix":"T","accessionYear":1999,"otherNumbers":[],"copyNumber":"","aspects":["WHOLE","Belt","Shirt","Trousers","Jacket"],"assets":[],"recordModificationDate":"2026-02-17","recordCreationDate":"2000-11-20","availableToBook":true}}