Toile thumbnail 1
Toile thumbnail 2
On loan

  • On short term loan out for exhibition

Toile

2021 (made)
Artist/Maker
Katungulu Mwendwa (made)
Katungulu Mwendwa (designed and made)
Place of origin
Kenya (made)

Calico toile of Aluel dress, cream cotton, designed by Katungulu Mwendwa, Nairobi, Kenya, 2021

Object details

Categories
Fashion
Africa
Clothing
Womenswear
Object type
Toile
Materials and techniques
Cotton (Textile)
Brief description
Calico toile of Aluel dress, cream cotton, designed by Katungulu Mwendwa, Nairobi, Kenya, 2021
Dimensions
  • Shoulder to hem length: 970mm (Maximum)
  • Bust circumference: 830mm (Maximum)
  • Waist circumference: 760mm (Maximum)
Measured by conservation
Gallery label
(02/07/2022 - 16/04/2023)
Mwendwa describes herself as an ‘architect for clothing’. Here we see her design process from paper pattern to toile mock-up, and the final design. The ‘Aluel’ dress is typical of Mwendwa’s innovative combination of angular details and curvilinear forms. Mwendwa was inspired by the stories and traditions of the South Sudanese Dinka community. Aluel is a Dinka word meaning beautiful woman or beautiful cow. Mwendwa explains the name is a great compliment in a community in which cattle are highly valued. (T.2388 & 2389-2021) V&A, Room 40, Africa Fashion
Credit line
Purchased with funds from the Sue Smith bequest
Collection
Textiles and Fashion Collection
Accession number
T.2389-2021

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Record createdJuly 29, 2021
Record URL
https://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O1648612/toile-katungulu-mwendwa/
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