Many Colors project is a joint project of Exodos Ljubljana team and Basque author Ixone Ormaetxe Gabilondo. It is a textile design project that seeks to explore, rethink and redefine the views that developed countries have towards Africa and Africa towards its own traditional / overlooked, forgotten fabrics, patterns, concepts and the West.
By rethinking and updating the symbolism of African textiles, the project contains both its own identity and the need to become visible, especially because it involves local (especially female) population in the design and creation of unique textiles. By encouraging the local population and creation of local materials, the project contributes to the empowerment of the local community and contributes to the mosaic of the cultural landscape of the world. We believe it is necessary to delve into specific traditions, ideologies and cultural heritage and show them to the world. It is important to share knowledge and co-create - for a fairer world. It is important to encourage local stakeholders, highlight local and sustainable ingredients and customs, and preserve colorful patterns.
Clothing is something that reveals not only our character, but also our identity, culture, affiliation. The project aims to raise awareness as well as respect for clothing culture and the history of local communities in a purely practical way. The aim of the project is therefore to overcome the superficiality of fashion and, as well as to highlight culture and tradition from a modern perspective, to enable the survival and income of local communities and enable them education and sustainable development. We encourage the clothes to be made from local ingredients that are environmentally friendly.
• aims to encourage the local population both in the design and consumption of clothes with locally produced textiles.
• aims to stimulate the desire - to wear and design indigenous, sustainable and unique modern clothing.
• seeks to encourage local small industry to earn a chance to make their way. Many of the products coming to Africa, especially from the West, are not quality products, but "second or third class" products.
• aims to encourage production, distribution and consumption, in a unique way local economy and contribute to the development of its own textile industry.
• aims to enable us to buy in Europe, fashionable, modern, unique dresses designed by domestic designers, seamstresses and weavers, made in small local centers in Burkina Faso and Senegal.
Many Melo workshops
Dakar, Senegal
10. 01. – 21. 01. 2023
Many Melo's (Many Colors) project activities sought toencourage creativity, learn new skills and traditional designs, create newtextiles and working methods, and present unique fashionable clothing; that'show mentor Ixone Ormaetxe approached her work, running the workshopswith students and teachers of Le Centre de Formation Professionnelle deOuakam in Dakar, Senegal. The objectives were to stimulate creativity,learn traditional textile skills and designs, learn about new designs andworking methods, and present products. Textile workshops focused on printing,tailoring, upcycling, and experimenting with local artisanal dyeing techniques.
Ormaetxe sought to approach the creative process from anartistic perspective beyond simply creating a fashionable textile product.After the workshops, a fashion show was organised to exhibit the results of thedesigned clothing.
"I wanted to explore space and objects as well as the senseof identity through clothes. The result was very positive: as a result of thisresearch, we developed a number of performances. We managed to break out of themould a bit, by way of experimentation and an elevated creative perspective onthe world of fashion," she explained.
