Talking about Africa’s sustainable & circular textile future

The global textile industry has become one of the most socially and environmentally harmful industries in the world. Challenging these impacts begins with sharing ideas and inspiration for sustainable material worlds.

That’s what we’re doing on 17 August at the V&A Waterfront. It is the third edition of Africa Textile Talks, hosted by Twyg and Imiloa Collective; a full day of connecting and learning about sustainability and circularity in textile, fashion, and design systems from across the continent.

The annual event aims to celebrate and support a growing African textile ecosystem that acts with care for people and the planet. This year, the focus is on inspiring new practices which are rooted in the past, informed by the present, and look to the future.

Guided by MC Thobile Chittenden, CEO of Makers Valley and network co-lead of the Wellbeing Economy Alliance, the day will be filled with talks, presentations, exhibits, and demonstrations that bring together sustainable growers, makers, designers, creatives, industry experts, retailers, and innovators. Speakers include:

• Representatives of the groundbreaking Ghanian organisation The OR Foundation,
• Kenyan creative director and textile designer Sunny Dolat,
• H&M Foundation 2023 Global Change Award finalists Rethread Africa (Kenya),
• Muktar Dodo, who will be presenting the Global Organic Textile Standard
• Design guru Bielle Bellingham will engage with textile artists and designers Frances van Hasselt, Tinyiko Makwakwa and Lezanne Viviers about their innovative use of natural dyes and natural fibres.
• Looking at the future of sustainable and circular textiles, we will be in discussion with Krelyne Andrew from Sappi, Deon Saayman from Cape Wools SA, and Carolina Li from DDI about the developments of the African textile industry.

Africa Textile Talks is sponsored by the Global Organic Textiles Standard, Sappi, Cape Wools, H&M, V&A Waterfront, Goethe Institut, and British Council. It runs from 09:00-19:30 and includes a light lunch, snacks, and an evening social mixer event.

View the full programme here. Tickets via Quicket (early bird tickets until 31 July cost R300 per person; thereafter, R400 per person).