‘Cultural Fabric Africa’ is the result of a research project that seeks to inspire designers of African print fabrics. Through four textile prototypes it suggests new approaches to design that has the ability to engage people with each other in meaningful ways. Building on a Mozambican case study, the project explores changing perceptions of factory printed cloth and its relevance to local cultural practices. Placed at the intersection of traditional cloth customs and emerging global fashion trends the research considers shifts in consumer behaviour and the effect this has on living heritage practices. It investigates how such practices could be supported through print patterns that prompt communication and human interaction by making use of new technologies and material innovations.
‘Cultural Fabric Africa’ is the outcome of a research study undertaken by Marion Herlet in 2016 for a Master in sustainable design at Brighton University, UK.
Introduction
Every year over 2 billion yards of ‘African’ print fabric is sold across sub-Saharan Africa of which more than 80% are designed and produced in other parts of the world (Uqalo Research, 2015). Introduced to a commercial West African market in the late 19th century by the Dutch, the so called wax print cloth has undergone many transformations over the past hundred years…continue reading
Who I am
I am bringing into this research a formal background in art and design in the context of sustainable development in South East Africa. Over a period of nearly ten years I have been involved in projects that were based in remote coastal communities in Mozambique. My contributions there…continue reading
How to use this site
Rather than clearly emerging problems and solutions, this study has resulted much more in a kind of mapping of a complex terrain in which questions of perception and interpretation may significantly shape individual opinions. My decision to make the research available as an online website and blog has been partly to put it ‘out there’ for debate but also to create a useful tool…continue reading
About
‘Cultural Fabric Africa’ is the result of a research project that seeks to inspire designers of African print fabrics. Through four textile prototypes it suggests new approaches to design that has the ability to engage people with each other in meaningful ways. Building on a Mozambican case study, the project explores changing perceptions of factory printed cloth and its relevance to local cultural practices. Placed at the intersection of traditional cloth customs and emerging global fashion trends the research considers shifts in consumer behaviour and the effect this has on living heritage practices. It investigates how such practices could be supported through print patterns that prompt communication and human interaction by making use of new technologies and material innovations.
‘Cultural Fabric Africa’ is the outcome of a research study undertaken by Marion Herlet in 2016 for a Master in sustainable design at Brighton University, UK.
Introduction
Every year over 2 billion yards of ‘African’ print fabric is sold across sub-Saharan Africa of which more than 80% are designed and produced in other parts of the world (Uqalo Research, 2015). Introduced to a commercial West African market in the late 19th century by the Dutch, the so called wax print cloth has undergone many transformations over the past hundred years…continue reading
Who I am
I am bringing into this research a formal background in art and design in the context of sustainable development in South East Africa. Over a period of nearly ten years I have been involved in projects that were based in remote coastal communities in Mozambique. My contributions there…continue reading
How to use this site
Rather than clearly emerging problems and solutions, this study has resulted much more in a kind of mapping of a complex terrain in which questions of perception and interpretation may significantly shape individual opinions. My decision to make the research available as an online website and blog has been partly to put it ‘out there’ for debate but also to create a useful tool…continue reading