INDIGO ART AND FASHION

An exclusive natural indigo dyeing workshop with Aboubaka Fofana

Hosted by Occupying The Gallery

Discover the art of natural dyeing in a hands-on workshop led by Malian-French multidisciplinary artist, textile designer and master dyer Aboubakar Fofana, internationally recognised for his work revitalising traditional West African indigo dyeing techniques and reimagining their possibilities within contemporary art, design and fashion.

Participants will receive a T-shirt to transform through natural dyeing, learning techniques from Fofana to create their own unique patterns, textures and colours. Each participant will take their custom-dyed T-shirt home as a wearable artwork and a lasting reminder of this shared creative experience.

Fofana’s practice bridges traditional knowledge and contemporary design. His work has extended into the international fashion industry through collaborations with brands including EDUN, for which he developed indigo-dyed collections presented at New York Fashion Week, and Urban Zen, where he explored mineral mud-dye techniques. Beyond fashion, his practice is dedicated to preserving and reinterpreting West African textile traditions, demonstrating how ancestral knowledge can inform contemporary approaches to making and wearing clothing.

At the heart of this workshop is an exploration of natural pigments and dyes as alternatives to synthetic colourants, inviting participants to reconsider the materials used to colour the textiles we wear. Derived from plants, indigo and earth, natural colour carries the character of its source and the conditions of its making. Working with these materials encourages a more attentive relationship with nature, traditional knowledge and the processes behind everyday objects.

The workshop also opens up a conversation about fashion, consumption and sustainability. In an industry shaped by mass production, rapidly changing trends and textile waste, Fofana advocates for a deeper understanding of the materials we use, the labour involved in making clothing and the cultural knowledge embedded in textile traditions. Natural dyeing offers an opportunity to engage with clothing more consciously, extending its value through personal intervention, creativity and care.

Join us for an opportunity to learn directly from an internationally acclaimed artist, experiment with natural colour and transform an everyday garment into something entirely your own.

DATE: Sunday, 25 October

TIME: 10:00 AM

VENUE: Victoria Yards, 16 Viljoen Street, Lorentzville, Johannesburg, 2094

What to bring and know

Please wear comfortable clothing that you don't mind getting stained, as natural dyeing is a hands-on process and colour may transfer onto your clothes. Lunch will be available for purchase at the venue, so you can take a break and enjoy a meal during the workshop.

RSVP via Quicket. Limited spaces available. Advance reservation required.