LIAAF | Leeds International African Arts Festival reposted this
"Is Wax Print actually African?" That’s the question I tried to answer in my feature documentary Wax Print: 1 Fabric, 4 Continents, 200 Years of History (yes, it’s a long title - but so is the journey of this cloth). To my surprise (and quiet delight), the film is still going strong seven years after its release. I didn’t expect that. But maybe that says something about how layered and urgent these conversations still are. A couple weeks back, we screened the film at the iconic Hyde Park Picture House in Leeds as part of LIAAF | Leeds International African Arts Festival. Afterwards, an incredible panel of women from the fashion and sustainability space gathered to discuss the complexities of fast fashion, heritage, and the stories stitched into the clothes we wear. Wax Print spans continents and centuries touching on the transatlantic slave trade, colonialism, industrial revolution, and the politics of global trade. But it’s also deeply personal. I made this film as someone whose childhood memories of the cloth were wrapped in my Nigerian grandmother’s hands. On the panel, I spoke about how sustainability can't just be about fabrics and carbon footprints. It has to include us, our mental health, our stories, our identities. We can't guilt our way into change. We need compassion as much as we need action. Huge thanks to NDIDI NKWOPARA and Chim'Di Ugada for screening the film and curating such an inspiring and energising panel. Deep gratitude to the brilliant and insightful Monique Narh, Andrea Benahmed Djilali AndReal, Hye-Won Lim , Tefa Nkele and Dr Anja Connor-Crabb you made the panel so rich. Pictures by the incredibly talented Marcos Avlonitis (who also shot some of the scenes in the film)- thank you, it's always a pleasure working with you! Wax Print is now available for Black History Month 2025 bookings through our distributor Documentary Educational Resources (DER). Perfect for screenings, panels, and meaningful conversations on identity, history and sustainability. Link in comments to request a booking. #SustainableFashion #AfricanTextiles #CulturalIdentity #WomenInFilm #FashionHistory #DocumentaryFilm #EthicalFashion #BlackHistoryMonth2025 #SlowFashion
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