Open-Robe
1970s
Artist/Maker | |
Place of origin |
Victoria Folashade ‘Shade’ Thomas-Fahm was born in Nigeria in 1933. In 1953 she travelled to Britain with a view to training as a nurse under the sponsorship of the British Council but her interest in fashion led her to instead take an evening class to gain her National Diploma and subsequently enroll at Saint Martin’s School of Art to study fashion. Thomas-Fahm returned to Lagos, Nigeria in 1960 and established her own boutique at the Federal Palace Hotel, Maison Shade (later known as Shade’s Boutique). She also opened a factory on the Yaba Industrial Estate to produce her contemporary reimagining of local Nigerian garments and textile techniques. Championing Nigerian fabrics and silhouettes, Thomas-Fahm designed for the cosmopolitan, working woman. Her boutique swiftly became the go-to place for people of style in Lagos and she counted diplomats and royalty amongst her regular clientele.
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Object details
Categories | |
Object type | |
Materials and techniques | Handwoven òkẹ́nẹ́ cotton |
Brief description | Robe of òkẹ́nẹ́ cotton, Shade Thomas-Fahm, Nigeria, 1970s |
Physical description | The robe has an opening along the centre front, a round neckline and long fitted sleeves. |
Dimensions |
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Gallery label | Thomas-Fahm is a passionate advocate of Nigerian fabrics, often using aṣọ-òkè, àdìrẹ, akwete and okene in her designs. This coat is made from okene cloth. Named after the Nigerian city of Okene, it is traditionally made by women. Woven by hand, it takes around three weeks to produce five yards of fabric. V&A, Room 40, Africa Fashion (02/07/2022 - 16/04/2023) |
Credit line | Given by Shade Thomas-Fahm |
Summary | Victoria Folashade ‘Shade’ Thomas-Fahm was born in Nigeria in 1933. In 1953 she travelled to Britain with a view to training as a nurse under the sponsorship of the British Council but her interest in fashion led her to instead take an evening class to gain her National Diploma and subsequently enroll at Saint Martin’s School of Art to study fashion. Thomas-Fahm returned to Lagos, Nigeria in 1960 and established her own boutique at the Federal Palace Hotel, Maison Shade (later known as Shade’s Boutique). She also opened a factory on the Yaba Industrial Estate to produce her contemporary reimagining of local Nigerian garments and textile techniques. Championing Nigerian fabrics and silhouettes, Thomas-Fahm designed for the cosmopolitan, working woman. Her boutique swiftly became the go-to place for people of style in Lagos and she counted diplomats and royalty amongst her regular clientele. |
Collection | |
Accession number | T.6-2022 |
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Record created | May 9, 2021 |
Record URL |
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