Understanding material cultures from the African Diaspora is to recognise and appreciate how different objects, designs and structures create and impact the experiences of the myriad communities in which they form the building blocks. The theme for CIAD’s second dress conference focuses on how the development and use of cloth signify aspects of material culture within African Diaspora communities.

Communities borne within or with heritage to the African continent have used cloth and different textiles as currency, as socio-cultural statements, as a way to subvert political discrimination and as a way to align with particular group affiliations. Historically, having access to great swathes of well-made, luxurious cloth was a way to determine the wealth or merit of a person. Today we can still see how cloth is used amongst people of African heritage to wrap the body or head.

In this current era of decolonialism, we are learning more about the process of cloth creation and the significance certain cloth has to some communities over others. This knowledge helps us understand that cloth can be incredibly political and attempts to reclaim historical practices once demonised and disenfranchised by colonialism can become even more fractured without a full understanding of the cloth one chooses to use as a symbol of pride. The history and legacy of colonialism can often be told through the development of the cloth used in the African Diaspora.

Fibres, Fabrics and Textiles, CIAD’s second dress conference, brings together researchers and practitioners from across the world to discuss the engagement of cloth and textiles in their chosen communities of research and or practice.