Our Mission

The Loom Cluster (LC) association was founded as an independent non-profit entity in 2017. The organisation underwent a reorganisation in 2022, and now Loom Foundation is the legally recognised entity. The goal of Loom foundation is to provide a dedicated platform that addresses the intersection of representation and aesthetics within textile and fashion studies with a focus on the African continent.

Vision

Our vision is to document and disseminate narratives regarding textiles and dress from the African continent and its global diaspora through the creation of a multidisciplinary research hub.

Canva - Low Light Photo of Opened Book.jpg

Collection

Loom Foundation has embarked on the journey to collect and preserve resource materials that document the African history and cultural heritage of textiles, dress and ornaments. Our collection enrichment is an ongoing project and serves as not only a starting point but also a research aid in the vast landscape of multimedia.

BAT_Lewycky, D., & Nthomang, K. (2009). Equal shares- Oodi weavers and the cooperative experience. Toronto- Between the Lines..jpg

BAT_Gillow, J. (2016). African Textiles- Color and creativity across a continent. London- Thames & Hudson.jpg

BAT_African textiles and dyeing techniques.jpg

BAT_Patterns of Circulation- Cloth, Gender, and Materiality in West Africa.jpeg

BAT_Conflict and Costume- The Herero Tribe of Namibia by Jim Naughten.jpg

BAT_Dress and Ethnicity- Change Across Space and Time.jpg

BAT_The Global Circulation of African Fashion.jpg

BAT_African Fashion, Global Style- Histories, Innovations, and Ideas You Can Wear.jpg

BAT_African Textiles- The Karun Thakar Collection by Duncan Clarke & Bernhard Gardi & Frieder Sorber.jpg

BATAfrican Lace-Bark in the Caribbean- The Construction of Race, Class, and Gender.jpg

BAT_Schädler, K.-F. (1987). Weaving in Africa south of the Sahara. München- Panterra.jpg

Library

The library helps foster public understanding of textiles and fashion studies and its social, cultural, and economic importance, advocating for the long-term future of the disciplines and supporting its growth and development.