Fafali Bona-Lartey

Interrupting the Influx of Textile Waste

My practice is rooted in the handmade tradition of Ghanaian tie-dye. For five years I ran a textile business in Ghana’s Volta Region, using synthetic dyes to create colourful fabrics that celebrate local culture and craftsmanship.

During my MA studies, research into the environmental impact of synthetic dyeing and the large volume of second-hand clothing waste entering Ghana transformed my approach. I moved away from synthetic dyes and began working with natural dyes made from food waste, reclaimed textiles, and the traditional resist-stitch technique, tritik.

In my current work, gathering and stitching fabric before dyeing become acts of resistance. The stitches interrupt the movement of the dye, mirroring the idea of interrupting the continuous influx of textile waste into Ghana. Through sculptural installations and hybrid garments, I transform discarded textiles into new forms that speak of care, value and possibility.

I want to show that sustainable textiles can remain colourful, meaningful and visually engaging, and to encourage others to see textile waste not as something to discard, but as a material that can be reimagined and given new life.